Bordetella vaccines comprising LPS with reduced reactogenicity

ABSTRACT

The current invention lies in the field of medicine and more specifically in the field of vaccinology. The current invention concerns a novel  Bordetella  LPS and a modified bacterium of the genus  Bordetella  comprising such modified LPS. The LPS of the invention has a reduced endotoxicity in comparison to an unmodified  Bordetella  LPS. The modified LPS of the invention is therefore particularly suitable for use in inducing or stimulating an immune response in a subject, wherein the immune response is induced or stimulated against a  Bordetella  infection. The modified  Bordetella  LPS of the invention is obtainable by introducing in a  Bordetella  cell the expression of a heterologous acyl transferase. In particular, the modified  Bordetella  cell of the invention has an increased expression of an heterologous LpxA, LpxL or LpxD acyl transferase.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention lies in the field of vaccinology and in particular in the field of the prevention or treatment of a Bordetella infection.

The current invention pertains to a Bordetella LPS with a lowered endotoxicity, and a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella comprising such modified LPS. The invention further relates to an outer membrane vesicle (OMV) obtainable from said modified bacterium. The invention also concerns compositions comprising said LPS, genetically modified bacterium and/or OMV and the use of said composition as a medicament. The invention further concerns said composition for use in a treatment comprising inducing or stimulating an immune response in a subject.

BACKGROUND ART

Bordetella pertussis is a gram-negative bacterium and an obligate human pathogen that causes pertussis, an acute respiratory tract disease also known as whooping cough. Several vaccine formulations have been developed against pertussis. A whole cell pertussis vaccine that was introduced in the fifties of the previous century was effective but generated unacceptable side effects. Therefore, it is currently out of the market in the industrialized countries. Subunit-based vaccines replaced the whole cell vaccines as they were shown to be safe and to confer relative protection (55-95% of coverage) against the disease. However, the fast adaptation of the pathogen and the rapid waning of immunity, amongst others, are reducing the efficacy of these formulations. This became especially alarming in the industrialized countries in the last decades, which have witnessed a considerable increase in the number of cases including amongst vaccinees [1]. Thus, there is a strong medical need for a new, safe, and effective vaccine formula. A strategy to reach this goal could be the introduction of new whole cell vaccines with reduced toxicity. As toxicity is mainly determined by the lipid A moiety of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) [2], this approach requires lipid A engineering.

LPS is a major component of outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. It consists of a lipid A moiety, a core oligosaccharide, and a long polysaccharide known as the O-antigen, which, however, is lacking in some species including B. pertussis [3-5]. The lipid A moiety is recognized by the mammalian LPS receptor, the TLR4/MD-2 complex, resulting in activation of a signaling cascade that ends in the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines [6]. These mediators activate the immune defenses [7; 8], but overstimulation causes a variety of disorders with often fatal consequences [9]. Thus, LPS can act as adjuvant but also as a potent endotoxin. Lipid A of Escherichia coli consists of a glucosamine disaccharide that is phosphorylated at the 1 and 4′ positions and contains four hydroxylated fatty acyl chains linked via an amide linkage to the 2 and 2′ positions and via an ester bond to the 3 and 3′ positions. Two secondary acyl chains are esterified to the hydroxyl groups of the fatty acids at the 2′ and 3′ positions [4]. The biosynthetic pathway of lipid A requires nine well-conserved enzymes [4]. In the first step, a 3-hydroxyl acyl chain is transferred from acyl carrier protein to the 3 position of N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) in the activated sugar UDP-GlcNAc by LpxA [10; 11]. The resulting product is then de-acetylated by LpxC and subsequently acylated with a 3-hydroxyl acyl chain at the 2 position by LpxD. LpxH then removes a UMP molecule from a proportion of the resulting molecules and one modified molecule is linked with an unmodified one by LpxB. The resulting product is phosphorylated at 4′ position by LpxK to create the tetra-acylated and bis-phosphorylated lipid IVA. Two 3-deoxy-D-manno-oct-2-ulosonic acid (KDO) residues are then added to the 6′ position by WaaA after which the secondary acyl chains are added by the LpxL and LpxM acyl transferases.

Variations in the lipid A structure are found in different bacterial species. These variations affect the activation of the LPS receptor. Particularly, the number and length of the acyl chains as well as the number of phosphate groups could all determine the strength of activation [4; 12; 13].

Variation in the acyl-chain length is determined by molecular rulers in the acyl transferases LpxA, LpxD, LpxL and LpxM, which vary between these enzymes of different bacterial species [14]. Furthermore, after the conserved biosynthesis pathway, modifications can be introduced in the lipid A during or after its transport to the outer membrane by enzymes located in the inner or outer membrane. These modifications include acylation, de-acylation and de-phosphorylation and the presence of these enzymes differs between bacterial species [15].

Lipid A of B. pertussis (FIG. 1A) differs from that of E. coli in that it is penta-acylated: it misses a secondary acyl chain linked to the primary acyl chain at the 3′ position. Furthermore, the remaining secondary acyl chain is a C14 instead of a C12 as found in E. coli and, curiously, the primary hydroxylated acyl chains at the 3 and 3′ positions differ in length (FIG. 1A) even though they are added by the same LpxA enzyme.

It was reported previously that Bordetella 3-O-deacylated LPS reduces LPS toxicity (see e.g. WO 2006/065139). Nevertheless, the decreased toxicity of B. pertussis LPS that had lost the primary acyl chain at the 3 position was nullified in whole-cell preparations by its increased release from the membranes [2].

There is therefore still a strong need in the art for a Bordetella LPS having a reduced endotoxicity. In particular, there is a need for Bordetella species having such LPS with reduced endotoxicity. Preferably the endotoxicity of the LPS is sufficiently low to be suitable for use in the prevention or treatment of a Bordetella infection. More precisely, there is still a need in the art for a whole cell Bordetella vaccine comprising LPS with a lowered endotoxicity,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention pertains to a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter.

Preferably, the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety does not have a greater length than the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety at the same 3 position, and preferably the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety is not greater than C₁₀. Preferably, the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety has the same length as the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety at the same 3 position, and preferably the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position is C₁₀.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety is the same as the length of the acyl chain at the 3′ position.

Preferably, the shorter acyl chain is selected from the group consisting of: i) the acyl chain at the 3′ position of the lipid A moiety; ii) the primary acyl chain at the 2′ position of the lipid A moiety; iii) the secondary acyl chain at the 2′ position of the lipid A moiety; and iv) the acyl chain at the 2 position of the Lipid A moiety. Preferably, the acyl chain is at least two, four or six C atoms shorter. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention concerns a Bordetella LPS as defined herein, wherein, except for the modified lipid A moiety, the LPS has the structure of Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica. Preferably the LPS, except for the modified lipid A moiety, has the structure of Bordetella pertussis.

In a further preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a Bordetella LPS as defined herein, wherein the modified lipid A moiety has the structure of formula (I):

wherein X², X³, X^(2′), X^(3′), R², R³, R^(2′), and R^(3′) are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y, —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y, and —O—(C═O)—Y, wherein Y is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer that for each instance of Y is independently chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15.

In a second aspect, the invention concerns a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the bacterium comprises an LPS as defined herein. Preferably, the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity. Preferably, the genetic modification that introduces heterologous acyl transferase activity confers to the cell at least one of a heterologous LpxA, LpxL and LpxD acyl transferase activity. Preferably, the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one of a heterologous lpxA, a lpxL, and a lpxD gene, wherein i) the lpxA gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxA acyl transferase that has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the lpxL gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxL acyl transferase that has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2; and/or iii) the lpxD gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxD acyl transferase that has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 4

Preferably, the modified bacterium further comprises a genetic mutation that reduces or eliminates the activity of LpxA and/or LpxD acyl transferase encoded by an endogenous lpxA gene and/or an endogenous lpxD gene.

In a further preferred embodiment, the bacterium as defined herein is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase activity, wherein preferably the genetic modification introduces the expression of a heterologous lpxH gene and wherein preferably the lpxH gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxH that has at least 60% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 5.

Preferably, the bacterium as defined herein is a genetically modified Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica, wherein preferably the genetically modified bacterium is a genetically modified Bordetella pertussis and most preferably a Bordetella pertussis B213 strain. Preferably, the genetically modified bacterium as defined herein additionally has a genetic modification that increases lipid A 3-O-deacylase activity.

In a further preferred embodiment, the invention pertains to a Bordetella LPS as defined herein, wherein the LPS is obtainable from the genetically modified bacterium as defined herein.

In a third aspect, the invention concerns an OMV comprising the Bordetella LPS as defined herein. Preferably, the OMV is obtainable from the genetically modified bacterium as defined herein.

In a fourth aspect, the invention pertains to a composition comprising at least one of a Bordetella LPS, a genetically modified bacterium and an OMV as defined herein.

In a fifth aspect, the invention concerns a composition as defined herein for use as a medicament.

In a sixth aspect, the invention concerns a composition as defined herein for use in a treatment comprising inducing or stimulating an immune response in a subject. Preferably, the immune response is induced or stimulated against a Bordetella infection, preferably a Bordetella pertussis infection. In a preferred embodiment, the treatment is the prevention or treatment of whooping cough. Preferably, the composition for a use as specified herein is a pharmaceutical composition further comprising a pharmaceutically accepted excipient.

Preferably, the composition for a use as specified herein is a whole cell vaccine comprising a bacterium as defined herein, wherein preferably the bacterium is inactivated.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition for a use as defined herein is an acellular vaccine comprising a Bordetella LPS as specified herein or an OMV as defined herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the composition for a use as defined herein further comprises at least one non-Bordetella antigen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Definitions

The terms “homology”, “sequence identity” and the like are used interchangeably herein. Sequence identity is herein defined as a relationship between two or more amino acid (polypeptide or protein) sequences or two or more nucleic acid (polynucleotide) sequences, as determined by comparing the sequences. In the art, “identity” also means the degree of sequence relatedness between amino acid or nucleic acid sequences, as the case may be, as determined by the match between strings of such sequences. “Similarity” between two amino acid sequences is determined by comparing the amino acid sequence and its conserved amino acid substitutes of one polypeptide to the sequence of a second polypeptide. “Identity” and “similarity” can be readily calculated by known methods.

“Sequence identity” and “sequence similarity” can be determined by alignment of two peptide or two nucleotide sequences using global or local alignment algorithms, depending on the length of the two sequences. Sequences of similar lengths are preferably aligned using a global alignment algorithm (e.g. Needleman Wunsch) which aligns the sequences optimally over the entire length, while sequences of substantially different lengths are preferably aligned using a local alignment algorithm (e.g. Smith Waterman). Sequences may then be referred to as “substantially identical” or “essentially similar” when they (when optimally aligned by for example the programs GAP or BESTFIT using default parameters) share at least a certain minimal percentage of sequence identity (as defined below). GAP uses the Needleman and Wunsch global alignment algorithm to align two sequences over their entire length (full length), maximizing the number of matches and minimizing the number of gaps. A global alignment is suitably used to determine sequence identity when the two sequences have similar lengths. Generally, the GAP default parameters are used, with a gap creation penalty=50 (nucleotides)/8 (proteins) and gap extension penalty=3 (nucleotides)/2 (proteins). For nucleotides the default scoring matrix used is nwsgapdna and for proteins the default scoring matrix is Blosum62 (Henikoff & Henikoff, 1992, PNAS 89, 915-919). Sequence alignments and scores for percentage sequence identity may be determined using computer programs, such as the GCG Wisconsin Package, Version 10.3, available from Accelrys Inc., 9685 Scranton Road, San Diego, Calif. 92121-3752 USA, or using open source software, such as the program “needle” (using the global Needleman Wunsch algorithm) or “water” (using the local Smith Waterman algorithm) in EmbossWIN version 2.10.0, using the same parameters as for GAP above, or using the default settings (both for ‘needle’ and for ‘water’ and both for protein and for DNA alignments, the default Gap opening penalty is 10.0 and the default gap extension penalty is 0.5; default scoring matrices are Blosum62 for proteins and DNAFull for DNA). When sequences have a substantially different overall lengths, local alignments, such as those using the Smith Waterman algorithm, are preferred.

Alternatively percentage similarity or identity may be determined by searching against public databases, using algorithms such as FASTA, BLAST, etc. Thus, the nucleic acid and protein sequences of the present invention can further be used as a “query sequence” to perform a search against public databases to, for example, identify other family members or related sequences. Such searches can be performed using the BLASTn and BLASTx programs (version 2.0) of Altschul, et al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-10. BLAST nucleotide searches can be performed with the NBLAST program, score=100, wordlength=12 to obtain nucleotide sequences homologous to acyl transferase nucleic acid molecules of the invention. BLAST protein searches can be performed with the BLASTx program, score=50, wordlength=3 to obtain amino acid sequences homologous to protein molecules of the invention. To obtain gapped alignments for comparison purposes, Gapped BLAST can be utilized as described in Altschul et al., (1997) Nucleic Acids Res. 25(17): 3389-3402. When utilizing BLAST and Gapped BLAST programs, the default parameters of the respective programs (e.g., BLASTx and BLASTn) can be used. See the homepage of the National Center for Biotechnology Information at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/.

Optionally, in determining the degree of amino acid similarity, the skilled person may also take into account so-called “conservative” amino acid substitutions, as will be clear to the skilled person. Conservative amino acid substitutions refer to the interchangeability of residues having similar side chains. For example, a group of amino acids having aliphatic side chains is glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine; a group of amino acids having aliphatic-hydroxyl side chains is serine and threonine; a group of amino acids having amide-containing side chains is asparagine and glutamine; a group of amino acids having aromatic side chains is phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan; a group of amino acids having basic side chains is lysine, arginine, and histidine; and a group of amino acids having sulphur-containing side chains is cysteine and methionine. Preferred conservative amino acids substitution groups are: valine-leucine-isoleucine, phenylalanine-tyrosine, lysine-arginine, alanine-valine, aspartate-glutamate and asparagine-glutamine. Substitutional variants of the amino acid sequence disclosed herein are those in which at least one residue in the disclosed sequences has been removed and a different residue inserted in its place. Preferably, the amino acid change is conservative. Preferred conservative substitutions for each of the naturally occurring amino acids are as follows: Ala to ser; arg to lys; asn to gin or his; asp to glu; cys to ser or ala; gin to asn; glu to asp; gly to pro; his to asn or gin; ile to leu or val; leu to ile or val; lys to arg; gin or glu; met to leu or ile; phe to met, leu or tyr; ser to thr; thr to ser; trp to tyr; tyr to trp or phe; and, val to ile or leu.

As used herein, the term “selectively hybridizing”, “hybridizes selectively” and similar terms are intended to describe conditions for hybridization and washing under which nucleotide sequences at least 66%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 98% or more preferably at least 99% homologous to each other typically remain hybridized to each other. That is to say, such hybridizing sequences may share at least 45%, at least 50%, at least 55%, at least 60%, at least 65, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95%, more preferably at least 98% or more preferably at least 99% sequence identity.

A preferred, non-limiting example of such hybridization conditions is hybridization in 6× sodium chloride/sodium citrate (SSC) at about 45° C., followed by one or more washes in 1×SSC, 0.1% SDS at about 50° C., preferably at about 55° C., preferably at about 60° C. and even more preferably at about 65° C.

Highly stringent conditions include, for example, hybridization at about 68° C. in 5×SSC/5×Denhardt's solution/1.0% SDS and washing in 0.2×SSC/0.1% SDS at room temperature. Alternatively, washing may be performed at 42° C.

The skilled artisan will know which conditions to apply for stringent and highly stringent hybridization conditions. Additional guidance regarding such conditions is readily available in the art, for example, in Sambrook et al., 1989, Molecular Cloning, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, N.Y.; and Ausubel et al. (eds.), Sambrook and Russell (2001) “Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3rd edition), Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York 1995, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, (John Wiley & Sons, N.Y.).

Of course, a polynucleotide which hybridizes only to a poly A sequence (such as the 3′ terminal poly(A) tract of mRNAs), or to a complementary stretch of T (or U) resides, would not be included in a polynucleotide of the invention used to specifically hybridize to a portion of a nucleic acid of the invention, since such a polynucleotide would hybridize to any nucleic acid molecule containing a poly (A) stretch or the complement thereof (e.g., practically any double-stranded cDNA clone).

A “nucleic acid construct” or “nucleic acid vector” is herein understood to mean a man-made nucleic acid molecule resulting from the use of recombinant DNA technology. The term “nucleic acid construct” therefore does not include naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules although a nucleic acid construct may comprise (parts of) naturally occurring nucleic acid molecules. The terms “expression vector” or “expression construct” refer to nucleotide sequences that are capable of effecting expression of a gene in host cells or host organisms compatible with such sequences. These expression vectors typically include at least suitable transcription regulatory sequences and optionally, 3′ transcription termination signals. Additional factors necessary or helpful in effecting expression may also be present, such as expression enhancer elements. The expression vector will be introduced into a suitable host cell and be able to effect expression of the coding sequence in an in vitro cell culture of the host cell. The expression vector will be suitable for replication in the host cell or organism of the invention.

As used herein, the term “promoter” or “transcription regulatory sequence” refers to a nucleic acid fragment that functions to control the transcription of one or more coding sequences, and is located upstream with respect to the direction of transcription of the transcription initiation site of the coding sequence, and is structurally identified by the presence of a binding site for DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, transcription initiation sites and any other DNA sequences, including, but not limited to transcription factor binding sites, repressor and activator protein binding sites, and any other sequences of nucleotides known to one of skill in the art to act directly or indirectly to regulate the amount of transcription from the promoter. A “constitutive” promoter is a promoter that is active in most cells, preferably bacterial cells, under most physiological and developmental conditions. An “inducible” promoter is a promoter that is physiologically or developmentally regulated, e.g. by the application of a chemical inducer.

The term “selectable marker” is a term familiar to one of ordinary skill in the art and is used herein to describe any genetic entity which, when expressed, can be used to select for a cell or cells containing the selectable marker. The term “reporter” may be used interchangeably with marker, although it is mainly used to refer to visible markers, such as green fluorescent protein (GFP). Selectable markers may be dominant or recessive or bidirectional.

As used herein, the term “operably linked” refers to a linkage of polynucleotide elements in a functional relationship. A nucleic acid is “operably linked” when it is placed into a functional relationship with another nucleic acid sequence. For instance, a transcription regulatory sequence is operably linked to a coding sequence if it affects the transcription of the coding sequence. Operably linked means that the DNA sequences being linked are typically contiguous and, where necessary to join two protein encoding regions, contiguous and in reading frame.

The term “peptide” as used herein is defined as a chain of amino acid residues, usually having a defined sequence. As used herein the term peptide is interchangeable with the terms “polypeptide” and “protein”. In the context of the present invention, the term “peptide” is defined as being any peptide or protein comprising at least two amino acids linked by a modified or unmodified peptide bond. The term “peptide” refers to short-chain molecules such as oligopeptides or oligomers or to long-chain molecules such as proteins. A protein/peptide can be linear, branched or cyclic.

The peptide can include D amino acids, L amino acids, or a combination thereof. A peptide according to the present invention can comprise modified amino acids. Thus, the peptide of the present invention can also be modified by natural processes such as post-transcriptional modifications or by a chemical process. Some examples of these modifications are: acetylation, acylation, ADP-ribosylation, amidation, covalent bonding with flavine, covalent bonding with a heme, covalent bonding with a nucleotide or a nucleotide derivative, covalent bonding to a modified or unmodified carbohydrate moiety, bonding with a lipid or a lipid derivative, covalent bonding with a phosphotidylinositol, cross-linking, cyclization, disulfide bond formation, demethylation, cysteine molecule formation, pyroglutamate formation, formylation, gamma-carboxylation, hydroxylation, iodination, methylation, oxidation, phosphorylation, racemization, etc. Thus, any modification of the peptide which does not have the effect of eliminating the immunogenicity of the peptide, is covered within the scope of the present invention.

The term “gene” means a DNA fragment comprising a region (transcribed region), which is transcribed into an RNA molecule (e.g. an mRNA) in a cell, operably linked to suitable regulatory regions (e.g. a promoter). A gene will usually comprise several operably linked fragments, such as a promoter, a 5′ leader sequence, a coding region and a 3′-nontranslated sequence (3′-end) comprising a polyadenylation site. “Expression of a gene” refers to the process wherein a DNA region which is operably linked to appropriate regulatory regions, particularly a promoter, is transcribed into an RNA, which is biologically active, i.e. which is capable of being translated into a biologically active protein or peptide. The term “homologous” when used to indicate the relation between a given (recombinant) nucleic acid or polypeptide molecule and a given host organism or host cell, is understood to mean that in nature the nucleic acid or polypeptide molecule is produced by a host cell or organisms of the same species, preferably of the same variety or strain. If homologous to a host cell, a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide will typically (but not necessarily) be operably linked to another (heterologous) promoter sequence and, if applicable, another (heterologous) secretory signal sequence and/or terminator sequence than in its natural environment. It is understood that the regulatory sequences, signal sequences, terminator sequences, etc. may also be homologous to the host cell.

The terms “heterologous” and “exogenous” when used with respect to a nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) or protein refers to a nucleic acid or protein that does not occur naturally as part of the organism, cell, genome or DNA or RNA sequence in which it is present, or that is found in a cell or location or locations in the genome or DNA or RNA sequence that differ from that in which it is found in nature. Heterologous and exogenous nucleic acids or proteins are not endogenous to the cell into which it is introduced, but have been obtained from another cell or synthetically or recombinantly produced. Generally, though not necessarily, such nucleic acids encode proteins, i.e. exogenous proteins, that are not normally produced by the cell in which the DNA is transcribed or expressed. Similarly exogenous RNA encodes for proteins not normally expressed in the cell in which the exogenous RNA is present. Heterologous/exogenous nucleic acids and proteins may also be referred to as foreign nucleic acids or proteins. Any nucleic acid or protein that one of skill in the art would recognize as foreign to the cell in which it is expressed is herein encompassed by the term heterologous or exogenous nucleic acid or protein. The terms heterologous and exogenous also apply to non-natural combinations of nucleic acid or amino acid sequences, i.e. combinations where at least two of the combined sequences are foreign with respect to each other.

The term “immune response” as used herein refers to the production of antibodies and/or cells (such as T lymphocytes) that are directed against, and/or assist in the decomposition and/or inhibition of, a particular antigenic entity, carrying and/or expressing or presenting antigens and/or antigenic epitopes at its surface. The phrases “an effective immunoprotective response”, “immunoprotection”, and like terms, for purposes of the present invention, mean an immune response that is directed against one or more antigenic epitopes of a pathogen, a pathogen-infected cell or a cancer cell so as to protect against infection by the pathogen or against cancer in a vaccinated subject. For purposes of the present invention, protection against infection by a pathogen or protection against cancer includes not only the absolute prevention of infection or cancer, but also any detectable reduction in the degree or rate of infection by a pathogen or of the cancer, or any detectable reduction in the severity of the disease or any symptom or condition resulting from infection by the pathogen or cancer in the vaccinated subject, for example as compared to an unvaccinated infected subject. An effective immunoprotective response in the case of cancer also includes clearing up the cancer cells, thereby reducing the size of cancer or even abolishing the cancer. Vaccination in order to achieve this is also called therapeutic vaccination. Alternatively, an effective immunoprotective response can be induced in subjects that have not previously been infected with the pathogen and/or are not infected with the pathogen or do not yet suffer from cancer at the time of vaccination, such vaccination can be referred to as prophylactic vaccination.

According to the present invention, the general use herein of the term “antigen” refers to any molecule that binds specifically to an antibody. The term also refers to any molecule or molecular fragment that can be bound by an MHC molecule and presented to a T-cell receptor. Antigens can be e.g. proteinaceous molecules, i.e. polyaminoacid sequences, optionally comprising non-protein groups such as carbohydrate moieties and/or lipid moieties or antigens can be e.g. molecules that are not proteinaceous such as carbohydrates. An antigen can be e.g. any portion of a protein (peptide, partial protein, full-length protein), wherein the protein is naturally occurring or synthetically derived, a cellular composition (whole cell, cell lysate or disrupted cells), an organism (whole organism, lysate or disrupted cells) or a carbohydrate or other molecule, or a portion thereof, that is able to elicit an antigen-specific immune response (humoral and/or cellular immune response) in a particular subject, which immune response preferably is measurable via an assay or method.

The term “antigen” is herein understood as a structural substance which serves as a target for the receptors of an adaptive immune response. An antigen thus serves as target for a TCR (T-cell receptor) or a BCR (B-cell receptor) or the secreted form of a BCR, i.e. an antibody. The antigen can thus be a protein, peptide, carbohydrate or other hapten that is usually part of a larger structure, such as e.g. a cell or a virion. The antigen may originate from within the body (“self”) or from the external environment (“non-self”). The immune system is usually non-reactive against “self” antigens under normal conditions due to negative selection of T cells in the thymus and is supposed to identify and attack only “non-self” invaders from the outside world or modified/harmful substances present in the body under e.g. disease conditions. Antigen structures that are the target of a cellular immune response are presented by antigen presenting cells (APC) in the form of processed antigenic peptides to the T cells of the adaptive immune system via a histocompatibility molecule. Depending on the antigen presented and the type of the histocompatibility molecule, several types of T cells can become activated. For T-Cell Receptor (TCR) recognition, the antigen is processed into small peptide fragments inside the cell and presented to a T-cell receptor by major histocompatibility complex (MHC).

The term “immunogen” is used herein to describe an entity that comprises or encodes at least one epitope of an antigen such that when administered to a subject, preferably together with an appropriate adjuvant, elicits a specific humoral and/or cellular immune response in the subject against the epitope and antigen comprising the epitope. An immunogen can be identical to the antigen or at least comprises a part of the antigen, e.g. a part comprising an epitope of the antigen. Therefore, to vaccinate a subject against a particular antigen means, in one embodiment, that an immune response is elicited against the antigen or immunogenic portion thereof, as a result of administration of an immunogen comprising at least one epitope of the antigen. Vaccination preferably results in a protective or therapeutic effect, wherein subsequent exposure to the antigen (or a source of the antigen) elicits an immune response against the antigen (or source) that reduces or prevents a disease or condition in the subject. The concept of vaccination is well-known in the art. The immune response that is elicited by administration of a prophylactic or therapeutic composition of the present invention can be any detectable change in any facet of the immune status (e.g., cellular response, humoral response, cytokine production), as compared to in the absence of the administration of the vaccine.

An “epitope” is defined herein as a single immunogenic site within a given antigen that is sufficient to elicit an immune response in a subject. Those of skill in the art will recognize that T cell epitopes are different in size and composition from B cell epitopes, and that T cell epitopes presented through the Class I MHC pathway differ from epitopes presented through the Class II MHC pathway. Epitopes can be linear sequences or conformational epitopes (conserved binding regions) depending on the type of immune response. An antigen can be as small as a single epitope, or larger, and can include multiple epitopes. As such, the size of an antigen can be as small as about 5-12 amino acids (e.g., a peptide) and as large as: a full length protein, including multimeric proteins, protein complexes, virions, particles, whole cells, whole microorganisms, or portions thereof (e.g., lysates of whole cells or extracts of microorganisms).

An adjuvant is herein understood to be an entity, that, when administered in combination with an antigen to a human or an animal subject to raise an immune response against the antigen in the subject, stimulates the immune system, thereby provoking, enhancing or facilitating the immune response against the antigen, preferably without necessarily generating a specific immune response to the adjuvant itself. A preferred adjuvant enhances the immune response against a given antigen by at least a factor of 1.5, 2, 2.5, 5, 10 or 20, as compared to the immune response generated against the antigen under the same conditions but in the absence of the adjuvant. Tests for determining the statistical average enhancement of the immune response against a given antigen as produced by an adjuvant in a group of animal or human subjects over a corresponding control group are available in the art. The adjuvant preferably is capable of enhancing the immune response against at least two different antigens.

OMV (also referred to as “blebs”) are bi-layered membrane structures, usually spherical, with a diameter in the range of 20-250 nm (sometimes 10-500 nm), that are pinched off from the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria. The OMV membrane contains phospholipids (PL) on the inside and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and PL on the outside, mixed with membrane proteins in various positions, largely reflecting the structure of the bacterial outer membrane from which they pinched off. The lumen of the OMV may contain various compounds from the periplasm or cytoplasm, such as proteins, RNA/DNA, and peptidoglycan (PG), however, unlike bacterial cells, OMV lack the ability to self-replicate. In the context of the present invention three type of OMV can be distinguished depending on the method of their production. sOMV are spontaneous or natural OMV that are purified and concentrated from culture supernatant, by separating intact cells from the already formed OMVs. Detergent OMV, dOMV, are extracted from cells with detergent, such as deoxycholate, which also reduces the content of reactogenic LPS. After detergent extraction dOMV are separated from cells and cellular debris and further purified and concentrated. Finally, the term native nOMV is used herein for OMV that are generated from concentrated dead cells with non-detergent cell disruption techniques, or that are extracted from cells with other (non-disruptive) detergent-free methods (e.g. using chelating agents such EDTA), to be able to clearly distinguish them from the wild-type spontaneous OMVs and from the detergent-extracted dOMV.

Any reference to nucleotide or amino acid sequences accessible in public sequence databases herein refers to the version of the sequence entry as available on the filing date of this document.

The Acyl Chain Length of the Modified Lipid a Moiety of Bordetella LPS

The current invention relates to the surprising discovery that reducing the length of the acyl chains of Bordetella lipid A moiety reduces LPS endotoxicity. The invention further discloses the unexpected finding that increasing the length of the acyl chain at a 3 position of the lipid A moiety results in lethality of the Bordetella species. Hence, the invention discloses that a specific subset of acyl transferases may be used in Bordetella species to reduce the length of the acyl chains and as such reduce the endotoxicity of the Bordetella LPS.

In a first aspect, the invention therefore pertains to a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, such modification of the acyl chain length could affect binding of the accessory molecules, e.g. CD14. Accessory molecules have significantly different binding affinities for LPS of different bacteria [23], which could potentially be influenced by the acyl chain length.

Wild-type Bordetella lipopolysaccharide (LPS) contains a lipid A moiety that is penta-acylated. The lipid A moiety of wild-type Bordetella pertussis LPS is shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the lipid A moiety of Bordetella pertussis contains four primary acyl chains and one secondary acyl chain. The secondary acyl chain is linked to the primary acyl chain at the 2′ (2 prime) position and the wild-type length of the secondary acyl chain is a C14. Furthermore in contrast to the secondary acyl chains, the primary acyl chains are always hydroxylated at their 3′-end (3-OH).

The primary acyl chains are respectively at the 2 and 3 positions and 2′ (2 prime) and 3′ (3 prime) positions of the lipid A moiety. The wild-type length of the acyl chains of the primary acyl chains is C14 at the 2, 2′ and 3′ position and the length of the wild-type acyl chain at the 3 position is C10.

In addition, it is understood that the terms “acyl chain at the 2, 3, 2′ or 3′ position” and “primary acyl chain at the 2, 3, 2′ or 3′ position” can be used interchangeable herein.

Furthermore, it is herein understood that when referring to the acyl chain at the “prime” position in the lipid A moiety, the position of the glucosamine on the non-reducing end is intended. For example, the acyl chain at the 3′ position is the acyl chain that is attached to the 3 position of the glucosamine on the non-reducing end.

Also, it is herein understood that when referring to the acyl chain at a specific (i.e. not prime) position in the lipid A moiety, the position of the glucosamine on the reducing end is intended. For example, the acyl chain at the 3 position is the acyl chain that is attached to the 3 position of the glucosamine on the reducing end. Similarly, the phrases “an acyl chain greater than” and “an acyl chain longer than” can be used interchangeable herein.

The phrases “an acyl chain shorter than” and “an acyl chain smaller than” can herein be used interchangeable.

It is herein understood that a shorter acyl chain does not include the complete absence of an acyl chain. Hence, a shorter acyl chain denotes the presence of an acyl chain, albeit shorter than the length of the acyl chain at the same position of the wild-type lipid A moiety. Preferably, an acyl chain is not shorter than 3-hydroxypropionic acid, or than propionic acid (C₃).

When reference is made to wild-type lipid A moiety (or unmodified lipid A moiety) in the text, at minimum the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella pertussis LPS as exemplified in FIG. 1 is intended, unless otherwise indicated. Similarly, the wild-type lipid A moiety of other Bordetella species are part of the disclosed invention. Bordetella lipid A moieties are e.g. disclosed in FIG. 2 of Caroff et al (Microbes and Infection 4 (2002):915-926, incorporated herein by reference). The wild-type lipid A moiety may be penta- or hexa-acylated. In case the lipid A moiety of the wild-type LPS is hexa-acylated, there are two secondary acyl chains (one at the 2′ position and one at the 3′ position). In case the Bordetella wild-type acyl chain of the lipid A moiety is hexa-acylated, any reference in the text made to the secondary acyl chain should be interpreted as the secondary acyl chain at the 2′ position and/or at the 3′ position.

In a preferred embodiment, the length of only one acyl chain is shorter than the acyl chain of the wild-type lipid A moiety at the same position. Preferably, the length of one primary acyl chain is shorter. More preferably, only the length of the primary acyl chain at the 2, 3, 2′ or 3′ position is shorter than the length of the wild-type Bordetella acyl chain at respectively the 2, 3, 2′ or 3′ position. Alternatively, only the length of the secondary acyl chain is shorter than the length of the wild-type Bordetella secondary acyl chain.

In an alternative embodiment, the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter. In particular, the length of at least the acyl chain at the 2 position is shorter than the wild-type length at the 2 position, thus shorter than C14. Alternatively, at least the acyl chain at the 3 position or at the 2′ position is shorter than the wild-type length at respectively the 3 or 2′ position, thus shorter than respectively C10 or C14. In another embodiment, at least the length of the acyl chain at the 3′ position is shorter than the wild-type length of the acyl chain at the 3′ position, thus shorter than C14. Alternatively, the length of at least the acyl chain at the secondary acyl chain is shorter than the length of the wild-type secondary acyl chain, thus shorter than C14.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention thus pertains to a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter, wherein the shorter acyl chain is selected from the group consisting of:

i) the acyl chain at the 3′ position of the lipid A moiety;

ii) the primary acyl chain at the 2′ position of the lipid A moiety;

iii) the secondary acyl chain at the 2′ position of the lipid A moiety; and

iv) the acyl chain at the 2 position of the Lipid A moiety.

In a further preferred embodiment, the length of at least 2, 3, 4 or (all) 5 acyl chains in the lipid A moiety is shorter than the wild-type length at the same position. Preferably the length of (at least) the acyl chain at the 2 and 2′ position is shorter than the length of the acyl chain of the wild-type acyl chains at respectively the 2 and 2′ position.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention thus pertains to a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter, wherein the acyl chain is at least two, four or six C atoms shorter. The at least one shorter acyl chain can be any of the acyl chains as specified above. The at least one shorter acyl chain is preferably at least 12, 10, 8, 6, 4 or 2 C atoms shorter in comparison to the length of the acyl chain at the same position of the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella. Alternatively, the shorter acyl chain is preferably at most 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 C atoms shorter. More preferably, the acyl chain is at least 8, 6, 4 or 2 C atoms shorter, more preferably at least 4 or 2 C atoms shorter and even more preferably at least 2 C atoms shorter. In the most preferred embodiment, the modified acyl chain is 2 C atoms shorter as comparted to the length of the acyl chain at the same position of the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella.

In a preferred embodiment, the length of the acyl chain at the 2 position is preferably at least 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, or 2 C atoms shorter in comparison to the length of the acyl chain at the 2 position of the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella. Alternatively, the shorter acyl chain is preferably at most 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 C atoms shorter. Hence, the length of the acyl chain at the 2 position of the modified lipid A moiety is preferably C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂.

Alternatively or in addition, the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position is preferably at least 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, or 2 C atoms shorter in comparison to the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella. Alternatively, the shorter acyl chain is preferably at most 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 or 14 C atoms shorter. Hence, the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety is preferably C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂ or C₁₄, and more preferably C₂, C₄, C₆ or C₈.

Alternatively or in addition, the length of the acyl chain at the 2′ position is preferably at least 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, or 2 C atoms shorter in comparison to the length of the acyl chain at the 2′ position of the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella. Alternatively, the shorter acyl chain is preferably at most 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 C atoms shorter. Hence, the length of the acyl chain at the 2′ position of the modified lipid A moiety is preferably C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂.

Alternatively or in addition, the length of the acyl chain at the 3′ position is preferably at least 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, or 2 C atoms shorter in comparison to the length of the acyl chain at the 3′ position of the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella. Alternatively, the shorter acyl chain is preferably at most 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 C atoms shorter. Hence, the length of the acyl chain at the 3′ position of the modified lipid A moiety is preferably C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂.

Finally, alternatively or in addition, the length of the acyl chain of the secondary acyl chain is preferably at least 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, or 2 C atoms shorter in comparison to the length of the secondary acyl chain of the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella. Alternatively, the shorter acyl chain is preferably at most 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 C atoms shorter. Hence, the length of the secondary acyl chain of the modified lipid A moiety is preferably C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂.

In addition, the length of 1, 2, 3 or 4 acyl chains of the modified lipid A moiety that are not shorter than the length of the wild-type acyl chain, may have a greater length than the acyl chain at the same position of the wild-type lipid A moiety. Thus in a further embodiment, the length of at least one acyl chain of the modified lipid A moiety is greater than the length of the wild-type acyl chain at the same position in the lipid A moiety, preferably in addition to another acyl chain in the same modified lipid A moiety that is shorter in length as specified above. Preferably, the length of the primary acyl chain at least at the 2, 3, 2′ and/or 3′ position, more preferably at the 2, 2′ and/or 3′ position, is greater than the length of the wild-type acyl chain at the same position in the lipid A moiety. Alternatively, or in addition, the length of the secondary acyl chain is greater than the length of the secondary acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety.

However in a preferred embodiment, the invention relates to a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter, and wherein the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety does not have a greater length than the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety at the same 3 position.

Hence, the acyl chain at the 3 position is preferably C₁₆ or less (in case the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella is e.g. B. parapertussis), C₁₂ or less (in case the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella is e.g. B. bronchiseptica or B. hinzii) or C₁₀ or less (in case the lipid A moiety of the wild-type Bordetella is e.g. B. pertussis), as specified above. In particular, the invention as exemplified below teaches that increasing the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position beyond the length of the wild-type acyl chain at the same 3 position may result in lethality of the Bordetella species. Hence, in a most preferred embodiment the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety does not exceed C₁₀.

Similarly, in a preferred embodiment the length of the primary acyl chain at the 2, 2′ or 3′ position of the modified lipid A moiety does not exceed C₁₄ and/or the length of the secondary acyl chain does not exceed C₁₄.

Alternatively or in addition, the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety is the same as the length of the acyl chain at the 3′ position. Hence both the acyl chain at the 3 position as well as the acyl chain at the 3′ position is C₂, C₄, C₆, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₄ or C₁₆. Preferably, both acyl chains are C₁₀ or C₁₂, and most preferably both acyl chains are C₁₀.

As outlined above, the length of one or several acyl chains in the modified lipid A moiety is shorter than the length of the wild-type acyl chain at the same position in the lipid A moiety. The acyl chains that are not shorter as compared to the wild-type length, may have the same length as the length of the wild-type acyl chains or may be longer. Preferably the acyl chains that are not shorter as compared to the wild-type length remain of the same length as the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety, e.g. remain unaltered.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the invention pertains to a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter, wherein the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety has the same length as the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety at the same 3 position. Hence, the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified Bordetella lipid A moiety is preferably C₁₀. In addition or alternatively, the acyl chain of at least one of the 2, 2′ and 3′ position in the modified lipid A moiety may have the same length as the acyl chain at respectively the 2, 2′ or 3′ position of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety. Hence, in a preferred embodiment the length of the acyl chain of at least one of the 2, 2′ or 3′ position of the modified lipid A moiety is C₁₄. Similarly, the length of the secondary acyl chain at the 2′ position is the same length as the wild-type secondary acyl chain, i.e. is C₁₄.

Thus, the modified Bordetella lipid A moiety of the invention may have one or more acyl chains that are shorter than the acyl chain(s) at the same position(s) in the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety and/or one or more acyl chains that are longer than the acyl chain(s) at the same position(s) in the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety and/or one or more acyl chains that have the same length as the acyl chain(s) at the same position(s) in the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety. Most preferably, the modified lipid A moiety has at least one acyl chain that is shorter than the length of the acyl chain at the same position of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety.

In another embodiment, the total number of C-atoms in the acyl chains of the modified lipid A moiety is the same as the total number of C-atoms in the acyl chains of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety as described above. The total number of C-atoms in the acyl chains of the Lipid A moiety of wild-type Bordetella is: C₁₄ (2 position)+C₁₀ (3 position)+C₁₄ (2′ position)+C₁₄ (secondary acyl chain)+C₁₄ (3′ position) in total 66 C atoms. In a preferred embodiment, the total number of C atoms in the acyl chains of the modified lipid A moiety is therefore 66 C atoms.

Alternatively, the total number of C atoms in the acyl chains of the modified lipid A moiety is higher than the total number of C atoms in the acyl chains of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety, thus is higher than 66 C atoms, preferably higher than 68, 70, 72 or 74 C atoms.

However, preferably the total number of C atoms in the acyl chains of the modified lipid A moiety is lower than the total number of C atoms in the acyl chains of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety, thus is lower than 66 C atoms, preferably in total 64, 62, 60, 58, 56, 54, 52, 50, 48, 46, 44, 42 or 40 C atoms.

In particular, the invention as exemplified below shows that the effect on toxicity is obtained independent of the position of the shorter acyl chain. Hence, the total volume of the hydrophobic moiety of the lipid A molecule is apparently important for the proper binding to and activation of the hTLR4 complex. Presumably, the shorter acyl chains affect the interaction of LPS with its receptor. On the membrane, TLR4 forms a complex with MD-2 [21]. MD-2 binds LPS and accommodates five of the six acyl chains of a hexa-acylated lipid A in a hydrophobic pocket, while one chain lies outside and stimulates TLR4 dimerization through its binding of a second TLR4-MD-2 complex. Also the phosphate groups of lipid A contribute to receptor dimerization by interacting with positively charged residues on the second TLR4 molecule. In tetra-acylated lipid A species, the acyl chains are buried in the MD-2 ligand-binding pocket and can't stimulate receptor dimerization, while exposition of an acyl chain is variable in penta-acylated LPS [22]. Hence the total acyl-chain volume of the ligand, as determined by the number, length and position of acyl chains, may determine the exposition of an acyl chain that triggers TLR4 dimerization. Without wishing to be bound by any theory, decreasing the length of the acyl chains in Bordetella lipid A reduces the volume of the acyl chains, which may allow their total accommodation within the MD-2 binding pocket and thereby preventing the exposure of an acyl chain required for receptor dimerization.

In a further preferred embodiment, the Bordetella LPS of the invention has a modified lipid A moiety as defined above. Except for the modified lipid A moiety, the Bordetella LPS of the invention otherwise has the structure of a lipopolysaccharide that is obtained or obtainable from a bacterium of the genus Bordetella. The genus Bordetella comprises nine species of gram-negative bacteria. The most extensively studied of these are the respiratory pathogens Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, and Bordetella bronchiseptica. B. pertussis infects only humans and is the causative agent of whooping cough in infants and persistent respiratory infections in adults. B. parapertussis exists as two separate lineages. One is adapted to the human host and causes whooping cough; the other is adapted to the ovine host in which it can cause chronic pneumonia. In contrast, B. bronchiseptica colonizes the respiratory tract of a large number of animals, and although it causes respiratory infections in some farm, companion, and wild animals, most B. bronchiseptica infections are asymptomatic and chronic. B. bronchiseptica is occasionally isolated from the respiratory tract of humans and is likely acquired through contact with infected animals (Preston et al, J. of Biol. Chem, 2006, 281(26):18135-18144).

The lipid A moiety of e.g. B. pertussis, B. parapertussis, B. hinzii and B. bronchiseptica is disclosed in FIG. 2 of Caroff et al (Microbes and Infection 4 (2002):915-926, incorporated herein by reference). In contrast to the LPS of B. bronchiseptica and B. parapertussis, the LPS of B. pertussis never contains an O-antigen domain (Peppler, 1984; Di Fabio et al., 1992). Therefore, B. pertussis LPS is often referred to as lipooligosaccharide (LOS). In the context of the invention, the terms “LOS” and “LPS” are used interchangeable herein. For reasons of consistency, we shall further refer to LPS. B. pertussis produces two dominant LPS forms, band A and band B LPS (Peppler, 1984). Band B LPS is composed of lipid A and a core oligosaccharide consisting of 9 carbohydrates (Caroff et al., 2000). Addition of a terminal trisaccharide, consisting of N-acetyl glucosamine, 2,3-diacetamido-2,3-dideoxy-mannuronic acid, and 2-acetamido-4-N-methyl-2,4-dideoxy-fucose, to band B LPS forms the LPS referred to as band A.

Preferably therefore, the invention relates to a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter and wherein, except for the modified lipid A moiety as defined herein, the LPS has the structure of Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica, or a strain of these species having a genetic modification, e.g. as described herein below. Preferably the Bordetella LPS has, except for the modified lipid A moiety, the structure of Bordetella pertussis or Bordetella parapertussis, of which Bordetella pertussis is the most preferred.

In a further preferred embodiment in invention concerns a Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter, and wherein the modified lipid A moiety has the structure of formula (I):

wherein X², X³, X^(2′), X^(3′), R², R³, R^(2′), and R^(3′) are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y, —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y, and —O—(C═O)—Y, wherein Y is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer that for each instance of Y is independently chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15.

Preferably, X², X³, X^(2′), X^(3′), R², R³, R^(2′), and R^(3′) are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y, and —O—(C═O)—Y, wherein Y is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer that for each instance of Y is independently chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15.

In preferred compounds of general formula (I), X₂, X₃, X₂′, and X₃′ are each independently selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y, and —O—(C═O)—Y wherein Y is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer that for each instance of Y is independently chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15, and more preferably independently chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 or 15.

In preferred compounds of general formula (I), R₂, R₃, R₂′, and R₃′ are each —Y, wherein Y is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer that for each instance of Y is independently chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15, and more preferably independently chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 or 15.

As is clear to a skilled reader, Y can be different for each of X², X³, X^(2′), X^(3′), R², R³, R^(2′), and R^(3′), and thus multiple different instances of Y can occur within a single compound of general formula (I). Accordingly, in preferred compounds of general formula (I),

X² is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(X2), —O—Y^(X2), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(X2), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2), wherein Y^(X2) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, X² is —OH or —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2), most preferably X² is —OH;

X³ is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(X3), —O—Y^(X3), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(X3), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(X3), wherein Y^(X3) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, X³ is —OH or —H, most preferably X³ is —OH;

X^(2′) is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(X2′), —O—Y^(X2′), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(X2), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′), wherein Y^(X2′) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, X^(2′) is —OH, —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(X2′), or —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′), wherein when X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′), n is preferably an integer chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13, more preferably n is 11 or 13 and most preferably n is 13, and wherein when X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(X2′) n is preferably an integer chosen from 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, or 12, more preferably n is 10 or 12, and most preferably n is 12; most preferably, X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′) wherein n is 13;

X^(3′) is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(X3′), O—Y^(X3′), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(X3), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(X3′), wherein Y^(X3′) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, X^(3′) is —OH or —O—(C═O)—Y^(X3′), wherein when X^(3′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X3′) n is preferably an integer chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 or 15, more preferably n is 13 or 15 and most preferably n is 15; most preferably, X^(3′) is —OH;

R² is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(R2), —O—Y^(R2), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(R2), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(R2), wherein Y^(R2) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, R² is Y^(R2); wherein n is preferably an integer chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11, more preferably n is 9 or 11, and most preferably n is 11; most preferably, R² is Y^(R2) wherein n is 11;

R³ is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(R3), —O—Y^(R3), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(R3), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(R3), wherein Y^(R3) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, R³ is Y^(R3) wherein n is preferably an integer chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13, more preferably n is an integer chosen from 7, 9, or 13, most preferably n is 7; most preferably, R³ is Y^(R3) wherein n is 7;

R^(2′) is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(R2), —O—Y^(R2′), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(R2), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(R2′), wherein Y^(R2′) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, R^(2′) is Y^(R2′) wherein n is preferably an integer chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11 and more preferably n is 9 or 11 and most preferably n is 11; most preferably, R^(2′) is Y^(R2′) wherein n is 11;

R^(3′) is selected from the group consisting of —H, —OH, —Y^(R3′), —O—Y^(R3′), —O—(C═O)—CH(OH)—Y^(R3), and —O—(C═O)—Y^(R3′), wherein Y^(R3′) is an alkyl moiety of general formula —(CH₂)_(n)—H, and n is an integer chosen from 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, or 15; preferably, R^(3′) is Y^(R3′) wherein n is preferably an integer chosen from 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, or 11, more preferably n is 7 or 11, most preferably n is 11; most preferably, R^(3′) is Y^(R3′) wherein n is 11;

When a compound of general formula (I) comprises —Y^(X2), —Y^(X3), —Y^(X2), or —Y^(X3′), n is preferably an odd number, more preferably 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, or 15, most preferably 11 or 13. When a compound of general formula (I) comprises —Y^(R2), —Y^(R3), —Y^(R2′), or —Y^(R3′), n is preferably an odd number, more preferably 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13, most preferably 7 or 11.

In preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² is Y^(R2) where n is 9 or 11. Accordingly, in preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² is —(CH₂)₉—H or R² is —(CH₂)₁₁—H. In further preferred compounds of general formula (I), X² is —OH. In more preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² is —(CH₂)₉—H or —(CH₂)₁₁—H and X² is —OH. In most preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² is —(CH₂)₁₁—H and X² is —OH.

In preferred compounds of general formula (I), R^(2′) is Y^(R2′) where n is 9 or 11. Accordingly, in preferred compounds of general formula (I), R^(2′) is —(CH₂)₉—H or R^(2′) is —(CH₂)₁₁—H. In further preferred compounds of general formula (I), X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′). In more preferred compounds of general formula (I), R^(2′) is —(CH₂)₉—H or R^(2′) is —(CH₂)₁₁—H and X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′). In most preferred compounds of general formula (I), R^(2′) is —(CH₂)₁₁—H and X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2).

In more preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² is Y^(R2) where n is 9 or 11 and R^(2′) is Y^(R2′) where n is 9 or 11. Accordingly, in preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² and R^(2′) are —(CH₂)₉—H or —(CH₂)₁₁—H. In further more preferred compounds of general formula (I), X² is —OH and X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′). In even more preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² and R^(2′) are —(CH₂)₉—H or —(CH₂)₁₁—H, X² is —OH, and X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′). More preferably, R² and R^(2′) are both —(CH₂)₉—H or are both —(CH₂)₁₁—H, and even more preferably R² and R^(2′) are —(CH₂)₁₁—H. In most preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² and R^(2′) are —(CH₂)₁₁—H, X² is —OH, and X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′).

In preferred compounds of general formula (I), R³ is Y^(R3). In further preferred compounds of general formula (I), R^(3′) is Y^(R3′). In more preferred compounds of general formula (I), R³ is Y^(R3) and R^(3′) is Y^(R3′). In even more preferred compounds of general formula (I), R³ is Y^(R3), R^(3′) is Y^(R3′), and X³ is —H or —OH.

In one set of most preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² and R^(2′) are —(CH₂)₉—H, X² is —OH, X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′), R³ is Y^(R3), R^(3′) is Y^(R3′) and X³ is —H or —OH. Such compounds are of general formula (II₁₂). General formula (II₂) is depicted below.

In another set of most preferred compounds of general formula (I), R² and R^(2′) are —(CH₂)₁₁—H, X² is —OH, X^(2′) is —O—(C═O)—Y^(X2′), R³ is Y^(R3), R^(3′) is Y^(R3′) and X³ is —H or —OH. Such compounds are of general formula (II₁₄). General formula (II₁₄) is depicted below. Compounds of general formula (II₁₂) or (II₁₄) can be referred to as compounds of general formula (II). In such a case, independent reference is made to both general formula (II₁₂) and general formula (II₁₄).

In preferred compounds of general formula (II), X³ is —OH. In other preferred compounds of general formula (II), X^(3′) is —OH. In more preferred compounds of general formula (II), X³ and X^(3′) are —OH.

In preferred compounds of general formula (II), Y^(R3) is —(CH₂)₇—H. In more preferred compounds of general formula (II) Y^(R3) is —(CH₂)₇—H, and X³ and X^(3′) are —OH. Such compounds are of general formula (III₁₂) or of general formula (III₁₄). General formulae (III₁₂) and (III₁₄) are depicted below. Compounds of general formula (III₁₂) or (III₁₄) can be referred to as compounds of general formula (III). In such a case, independent reference is made to both general formula (III₁₂) and general formula (III₁₄).

In preferred compounds of general formula (II), n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 for Y^(R3′); more preferably, n is 5, 7, or 9 for Y^(R3′); even more preferably, n is 7 or 9 for Y^(R3′); most preferably, n is 7 for Y^(R3′). In preferred compounds of general formula (III), n is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, or 11 for Y^(R3′); more preferably, n is 5, 7, or 9 for Y^(R3′); even more preferably, n is 7 or 9 for Y^(R3′); most preferably, n is 7 for Y^(R3).

In preferred compounds of general formula (II), n is 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 for Y^(X2′); more preferably, n is 7, 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); even more preferably, n is 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); most preferably, n is 11 or 13 for Y^(X2′). In preferred compounds of general formula (III), n is 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, or 13 for Y^(X2′); more preferably, n is 7, 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); even more preferably, n is 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); most preferably, n is 11 or 13 for Y^(X2).

In more preferred compounds of general formula (II), n is 5, 7, 9, or 11 for Y^(R3′) and n is 7, 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); even more preferably, n is 7 or 9 for Y^(R3′) and n is 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); most preferably, n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 11 or 13 for Y^(X2′). In a highly preferred compound of general formula (II), n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 11 for Y^(X2′). In another highly preferred compound of general formula (II), n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 13 for Y^(X2′.) In more preferred compounds of general formula (III), n is 5, 7, 9, or 11 for Y^(R3′) and n is 7, 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); even more preferably, n is 7 or 9 for Y^(R3), and n is 9, 11, or 13 for Y^(X2′); most preferably, n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 11 or 13 for Y^(X2).

In a highly preferred compound of general formula (III), the compound is of general formula (III₁₄) and n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 11 for Y^(X2′). In another highly preferred compound of general formula (III), the compound is of general formula (III₁₄) and n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 13 for Y^(X2′). In a highly preferred compound of general formula (III), the compound is of general formula (III₁₂) and n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 11 for Y^(X2′). In another highly preferred compound of general formula (III), the compound is of general formula (III₁₂) and n is 7 for Y^(R3′) and n is 13 for Y^(X2′).

In a further embodiment, the LPS as defined above is obtained or obtainable from the genetically modified bacterium as defined herein below.

Genetically Modified Bacterium

In a second aspect, the invention pertains to a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella. The bacterium preferably comprises an LPS having a modified lipid A moiety as defined above. The genetically modified bacterium may comprise LPS wherein at least 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80 or 90% of its total LPS has a modified lipid A moiety as defined herein. Alternatively, 100% of its total LPS has a modified lipid A moiety as defined herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity. Preferably, the genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity confers to the cell at least one of a heterologous LpxA, LpxL, and LpxD acyl transferase activity.

The introduction of heterologous acyl transferase activity may be accomplished using any method known in the art. For example, the heterologous acyl transferase activity may be introduced by modifying an endogenous wild-type Bordetella acyl transferase gene, preferably by modifying at least one of an endogenous lpxA, lpxL, and lpxD acyl transferase gene.

In a preferred embodiment, the structure of the molecular ruler of the endogenous acyl transferase is modified. To this end, it is known in the art that acyl transferases have strict molecular (hydrocarbon) rulers which determine the specificity for the acyl chain length. Modifying the structure of such hydrocarbon ruler will thus change the specificity for the acyl chain length. The amino acid sequences of acyl transferase hydrocarbon rulers are known in the art (see e.g. Wyckoff T J et al, J Biol Chem. 1998 273(49):32369-72 and Williams A H et al, Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2007; 104(34):13543-50) or can be straightforwardly retrieved using e.g. in silico alignments with acyl transferases having known hydrocarbon rulers.

The endogenous acyl transferases can be modified using any method commonly known in the art, including the replacement, addition or deletion of specific nucleotides or codons in order to change the specificity of the acyl chain length.

The acyl transferase activity is preferably introduced by the expression of at least one heterologous gene into the bacterium of the genus Bordetella, e.g. by expressing a heterologous acyl transferase. To this end, a single or a variety of heterologous acyl transferases may be introduced into the bacterium to obtain the modified LPS as disclosed herein. Such acyl transferases for use according to the invention are capable of transferring acyl chains of a certain (shorter) length to the lipid A moiety of the Bordetella LPS, thereby obtaining a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter. The expression of a heterologous acyl transferase may be achieved by any method known in the art.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the introduction of a heterologous acyl transferase activity is accomplished by introducing a heterologous acyl transferase that is at least one of LpxA, LpxD, and LpxL. Alternatively or in addition, the introduced heterologous acyl transferase is LpxM. Such acyl transferases are known in the art and may be obtained or obtainable from any gram-negative bacterium that is not the wild-type Bordetella bacterium as defined herein. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the heterologous acyl transferase may be obtained or obtainable from a Bordetella that is from a different species than the wild-type Bordetella bacterium.

The variation in the acyl chain length is determined by molecular rulers in the acyl transferases, which may vary between these enzymes of different bacterial species. Therefore in a preferred embodiment of the invention, the heterologous LpxA acyl transferase may transfer an acyl chain having a length of C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂. Similarly, the heterologous LpxD acyl transferase may transfer an acyl chain having a length of C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂, the heterologous LpxL acyl transferase may transfer an acyl chain having a length of C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂ and/or the heterologous LpxM acyl transferase may transfer an acyl chain having a length of C₂, C₄, C₆, C₈, C₁₀ or C₁₂.

In a further preferred embodiment, the acyl transferase is obtained or obtainable from the genus Neisseria, the genus Porphyromonas or the genus Pseudomonas. Thus, the acyl transferase LpxA may be obtained or obtainable from the genus Neisseria, the genus Porphyromonas or the genus Pseudomonas, the acyl transferase LpxD may be obtained or obtainable from the genus Neisseria, the genus Porphyromonas or the genus Pseudomonas, and/or the acyl transferase LpxL may be obtained or obtainable from the genus Neisseria, the genus Porphyromonas or the genus Pseudomonas. However, it is clear for the skilled person that other acyl transferases may be equally suitable for use in the invention.

Preferred species of the genus Neisseria include Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Neisseria lactamica, whereby the species Neisseria meningitidis is the most preferred.

Preferred species of the genus Porphyromonas include Porphyromonas gingivalis, Porphyromonas asaccharolytica, Porphyromonas cangingivalis, Porphyromonas canoris, Porphyromonas cansulci, Porphyromonas catoniae, Porphyromonas circumdentaria, Porphyromonas crevioricanis, Porphyromonas endodontalis, Porphyromonas gingivicanis, Porphyromonas gulae, Porphyromonas levii, Porphyromonas macacae and Porphyromonas salivosa, wherein the species Porphyromonas gingivalis is the most preferred.

Preferred species of the genus Pesudomonas include Pesudomonas aeruginosa, Pesudomonas putida, Pesudomonas fluorescens and Pesudomonas syringae, whereby the species Pesudomonas aeruginosa is the most preferred.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the bacterium of the genus Bordetella has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of an lpxA gene, and wherein at least one of i) the lpxA gene is obtained or obtainable from the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa, ii) the lpxD gene is obtained or obtainable from the species Pseudomonas aeruginosa and iii) the lpxL gene is obtained or obtainable from the species Neisseria meningitidis.

In another embodiment, the invention pertains to a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, and wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one heterologous lpxA gene, wherein the lpxA gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxA acyl transferase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:6, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxA acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1 or SEQ ID NO:6, wherein preferably the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one heterologous lpxA gene, wherein the lpxA gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxA acyl transferase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxA acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1.

Alternatively or in addition, the invention relates to a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, and wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one heterologous lpxL gene, wherein the lpxL gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxL acyl transferase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 32, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxL acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2, SEQ ID NO: 3 or SEQ ID NO: 32, wherein preferably the lpxL gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxL acyl transferase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxL acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2.

Alternatively or in addition the invention concerns a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, and wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one heterologous lpxD gene, wherein the lpxD gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxD acyl transferase having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxD acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 4.

In a further preferred embodiment, the sequence having a specific degree of sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1, 6, 2, 3, 32 or 4 as defined herein above retains respectively LxpA_((Pa)), LpxA_((Nm)), LpxL_((Nm)), LpxL_((Pg)), LpxL_((Pa)) or LpxD_((Pa)) acyl transferase activity.

In a further embodiment, the invention pertains to a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, and wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one heterologous lpxA gene, wherein the lpxA gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxA acyl transferase having the sequence as defined in GenBank WP_003092373.1, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxA acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with the sequence as defined in GenBank WP_003092373.1.

Alternatively or in addition, the invention relates to a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, and wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one heterologous lpxL gene, wherein the lpxL gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxL acyl transferase having the sequence as defined in GenBank WP_002222305.1 or as defined in GenBank WP_043876343.1, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxL acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with the sequence defined in GenBank WP 002222305.1 or as defined in GenBank WP 043876343.1 Alternatively or in addition the invention concerns a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, and wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one heterologous lpxD gene, wherein the lpxD gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxD acyl transferase having the sequence as defined in GenBank WP_003098585.1, or the nucleotide sequence that encodes the LpxD acyl transferase has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with the sequence as defined in GenBank WP_003098585.1.

In a further preferred embodiment, the invention pertains to a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, wherein the modified bacterium comprises an LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter and wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces at least one of a heterologous acyl transferase activity and heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase activity. Preferably, the genetically modified bacterium has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity and heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase activity

Preferably, such genetically modified bacterium has a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety has a greater length than the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety at the same 3 position.

The introduction of a heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase activity is preferably accomplished by introducing a heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase. Such UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatases are known in the art and may be obtained or obtainable from any gram-negative bacterium that is not the wild-type Bordetella bacterium as defined herein. Furthermore, it is also contemplated that the heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatases may be obtained or obtainable from a Bordetella that is from a different species than the wild-type Bordetella bacterium.

A preferred UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase is LpxH. Hence, in a preferred embodiment, the genetic modification introduces the expression of a heterologous lpxH gene. Expression of the heterologous lpxH gene thus introduces heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase activity in the cell.

The lpxH gene is preferably obtained or obtainable from the genus Neisseria, the genus Porphyromonas or the genus Pseudomonas as defined herein above. In a more preferred embodiment, the lpxH gene is obtained or obtainable from Neisseria, and more preferably the lpxH gene is obtained or obtainable from the species Neisseria meningitidis. Most preferably, the lpxH gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxH that has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:5.

In a further preferred embodiment, the sequence having a specific degree of sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:5 as defined herein above retains UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase activity.

In a further preferred embodiment, the lpxH gene has a nucleotide sequence that encodes a LpxH that has at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with a sequence as defined in GenBank WP_002222897.1.

The genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella as defined herein may further comprise an endogenous lpxH gene, i.e. a gene expressing an endogenous LpxH (UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase) or the genetically modified bacterium comprises solely the heterologous LpxH activity, e.g. does have endogenous LpxH activity. In a most preferred embodiment, the genetically modified bacterium does not express an endogenous LpxH having at least 40, 50, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 30.

In an alternative embodiment with respect to LpxH, the genetically modified bacterium comprises only the endogenous lpxH gene, i.e. expresses only the endogenous LpxH. In particular, the genetically modified bacterium thus does not comprise a gene that expresses a heterologous LpxH. More preferably, the genetically modified bacterium as defined herein does not express heterologous Neisserial LpxH and most preferably does not express heterologous Neisseria meningitidis LpxH. In a further preferred embodiment, the genetically modified bacterium only comprises a genetic modification that introduces the expression of at least one of a heterologous lpxA, a lpxL and a lpxD gene.

The genetically modified bacterium of the invention may contain a mixture of the different types of LPS. In particular, the modified bacterium may contain wild-type LPS in addition to LPS having a lipid A moiety having at least one shorter acyl chain as described herein. Alternatively, the genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella predominantly or solely contains LPS with a shorter acyl chain as defined herein. Thus the modified bacterium may not contain, or only contains traces, of the wild-type LPS. To obtain a bacterium of the genus Bordetella that does not comprise, or only comprises traces, of wild-type LPS, the genetically modified bacterium as defined above may be further modified. To this end, in a preferred embodiment the genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella as defined above further comprises a genetic mutation that reduces or eliminates the activity of at least one of LpxA, LpxD and LpxL acyl transferase encoded by respectively the endogenous lpxA, lpxD or endogenous lpxL gene.

Hence, such genetically modified bacterium may have a mutation that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity and a further mutation that decreases the corresponding endogenous LpxA and/or LpxD acyl transferase activity. Thus the overall LpxA and/or LpxD acyl transferase activity of the genetically modified bacterium may be increased, similar or decreased compared to the wild-type Bordetella bacterium.

The genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella as defined herein may comprise a genetic mutation in an endogenous gene having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 28, or a sequence having 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 28.

Alternatively or in addition, the genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella as defined herein may comprise a genetic mutation in an endogenous gene having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 29, or a sequence having 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 29.

Alternatively or in addition, the genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella as defined herein may comprise a genetic mutation in an endogenous gene having the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 31, or a sequence having 60, 70, 75, 80, 85, 90, 95, 98, 99 or 100% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 31.

In a preferred embodiment, the expression of the endogenous lpxA gene, the endogenous lpxD gene and/or the expression of the endogenous lpxL gene is eliminated by inactivation of said gene, e.g. by disruption or deletion of the gene by methods known in the art per se.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella as defined herein is a genetically modified Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica. Preferably, the genetically modified bacterium is a genetically modified Bordetella pertussis. In a further preferred embodiment, the genetically modified bacterium is a B. pertussis Tohama I strain or a derivative thereof. Preferably, the derivative Tohama I strain is a streptomycin-resistant derivative of the Tohama I strain and most preferably the genetically modified bacterium is derived from the strain B213 or a derivative thereof. Alternatively, the genetically modified bacterium is a B. pertussis B1917 or B1920 strain or a derivative thereof.

In addition, the genetically modified bacterium of the invention may have one or several further modifications e.g. mutations that reduce LPS endotoxicity. For example, the Bordetella LPS of the invention may have a modified oligosaccharide structure so as to remove possible epitopes that are suspected to provoke autoimmune responses, and/or to increase binding to dendritic cells and adjuvant activity. Furthermore, the genetically modified bacterium of the invention as defined herein may further comprise a genetic modification that increases lipid A 3-O-deacylase activity.

As indicated above, it is herein understood that a shorter acyl chain does not include the complete absence of an acyl chain. Hence, a shorter acyl chain denotes the presence of an acyl chain. Nevertheless the modified lipid A moiety may, in addition to a shorter acyl chain, also have less acyl chains in comparison to the number of acyl chains of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety. For example, the presence of at least partially 3-O-deacylated LPS and/or lipid A may further reduce LPS toxicity and may reduce the number and severity of side effects in the subject.

Hence, the genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella may comprise a mixture of LPS molecules, wherein the LPS molecules may be a mix of i) wild-type LPS and/or ii) LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter and/or iii) LPS that is deacylated, e.g. 3-O-deacylated. Alternatively or in addition, the genetically modified bacterium of the invention may comprise a LPS molecule having a lipid A moiety that has at least one shorter acyl chain and is also 3-O-deacylated. The invention further relates to LPS obtained from such genetically modified bacterium.

Preferably, the genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella as defined herein further comprises a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having SEQ ID NO: 25 (the PagL protein of Bordetella bronchiseptica and Bordetella parapertussis, GenBank WP_003813842.1), or a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide having at least 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95, 98 or 99% amino acid identity with SEQ ID NO. 25 and the polypeptide exhibits lipid A 3-O-deacylase activity.

OMV Comprising LPS of the Invention

In a third aspect, the invention pertains to an OMV comprising the Bordetella LPS as defined herein. OMV (also known as “blebs”), e.g. for use in vaccines, have traditionally been prepared by detergent extraction (a dOMV purification process), wherein detergents such as deoxycholate are used to remove LPS and increase vesicle release. An OMV preparation, prepared by sonication of cells and treatment with DOC, combined with alum adjuvant provided protection against pertussis challenge in a mouse model [Roberts, R., Vaccine 2008, 26, 4639-4646], which was comparable to the effect of a whole-cell vaccine. Another version of OMVs containing a PagL-deacylated modified LPS showed both protection and a lower reactogenicity, the latter determined in vivo by both weight gain and cytokine induction [Asensio, C. J., Vaccine 2011, 29, 1649-1656]. Another interesting finding with B. parapertussis OMVs was their cross-protection against both pertussis and parapertussis [Bottero, D. Vaccine 2013, 31, 5262-5268].

The LPS of most gram-negative bacteria, such as Bordetella is toxic. However, the Bordetella LPS of the invention may remain present in the OMV to a much larger degree than the toxic wild-type LPS. The detergent extraction process may therefore be replaced by a process that does not need the presence of a detergent. An OMV comprising a Bordetella LPS according to the invention therefore does not have to be a detergent-extracted OMV. It is understood however, that a process for preparing an OMV that is not a detergent-extracted OMV does not exclude the use of any detergents. The use of low concentration of detergent and/or the use of mild detergents are not excluded as long as most of the modified Bordetella LPS according to the invention, i.e. at least 5, 10, 20, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 95 or 99% of the modified Bordetella LPS, is maintained, e.g. as compared the amount of Bordetella LPS present in spontaneous or supernatant OMV from an equal amount of the same culture.

A preferred OMV comprising the Bordetella LPS of the invention is a supernatant or spontaneous OMV, i.e. sOMV as herein defined above, or a native OMV, i.e. nOMV as herein defined above. Alternatively the OMV comprising the Bordetella LPS of the invention is a detergent-extracted OMV. Methods for preparing dOMV, sOMV and nOMV are described in van de Waterbeemd et al (2010) and van de Waterbeemd et al (2013) (van de Waterbeemd B et al, Vaccine. 2010; 28(30):4810-6 and van de Waterbeemd B, PLoS One. 2013 31; 8(5):e65157) and WO2013/006055, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.

In a preferred embodiment, the OMV comprising the modified Bordetella LPS is obtainable or obtained from the genetically modified bacterium as defined above.

Compositions

In a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a composition comprising at least one of a Bordetella LPS, a genetically modified bacterium and an OMV as herein defined above. Preferably, the composition is a pharmaceutical composition. More preferably, the pharmaceutical composition further comprises a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient, carrier, medium or delivery vehicle as are conventionally known in the art (see e.g. “Handbook of Pharmaceutical Excipients”, Rowe et al eds. 7th edition, 2012, www.pharmpress.com). Pharmaceutically acceptable stabilizing agents, osmotic agents, buffering agents, dispersing agents, and the like may also be incorporated into the pharmaceutical compositions. The preferred form depends on the intended mode of administration and therapeutic application. The pharmaceutical carrier can be any compatible, non-toxic substance suitable to deliver to the patient. The “active ingredients of the invention” are herein understood to be one or more of a Bordetella LPS, a genetically modified bacterium or an OMV as defined herein above.

Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for parenteral delivery are exemplified by sterile buffered 0.9% NaCl or 5% glucose optionally supplemented with a 20% albumin. Alternatively, the active ingredients of the invention can be suspended in Phosphate buffered saline (PBS). Preparations for parenteral administration must be sterile. The parenteral route for administration of the active ingredients of the invention is in accord with known methods, e.g. injection or infusion by intravenous, intraperitoneal, intramuscular, and intra-arterial or intralesional routes. Alternatively, the composition maybe administrated by inhalation. The composition may be administrated continuously by infusion or by bolus injection. Preferably, the composition is administrated by bolus injection. A typical pharmaceutical composition for intramuscular injection would be made up to contain, for example, 1-10 ml of phosphate buffered saline comprising the effective dosages of the active ingredients of the invention. Methods for preparing parenterally administrable compositions are well known in the art and described in more detail in various sources, including, for example, “Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy” (Ed. Allen, L. V. 22nd edition, 2012, www.pharmpress.com).

Medical Uses

In a fifth aspect, the invention pertains to a composition comprising at least one of the Bordetella LPS, a genetically modified bacterium and an OMV as defined herein above for use as a medicament. Put differently, the invention thus pertains to the use as medicament of at least one of a Bordetella LPS of the invention, a genetically modified bacterium of the invention, an OMV of the invention, and a pharmaceutical composition of the invention. The invention further concerns a method of treatment using at least one of the Bordetella LPS, a genetically modified bacterium and an OMV as defined herein above.

In a sixth aspect, the invention relates to a composition comprising at least one of the Bordetella LPS, a genetically modified bacterium and an OMV as herein defined above for use in a treatment comprising inducing an immune response in a subject. Alternatively, the invention relates to a composition comprising at least one of the Bordetella LPS, a genetically modified bacterium and an OMV as herein defined above for use in a treatment comprising stimulating an immune response in a subject. In particular, the invention thus relates to a method for vaccination.

In a preferred embodiment, the immune response is induced or stimulated against a Bordetella infection. To this end, three Bordetella species are known human pathogens (B. pertussis, B. parapertussis and B. bronchiseptica. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the immune response is therefore induced or stimulated against a B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica infection.

B. pertussis and occasionally B. parapertussis cause pertussis or whooping cough in humans, and some B. parapertussis strains can colonise sheep. B. bronchiseptica rarely infects healthy humans, though disease in immunocompromised patients has been reported. B. bronchiseptica causes several diseases in other mammals, including kennel cough and atrophic rhinitis in dogs and pigs, respectively. Other members of the genus cause similar diseases in other mammals, and in birds (B. hinzii, B. avium).

Most preferably, the immune response is induced or stimulated against a Bordetella pertussis infection. In a further preferred embodiment, the invention pertains to a composition as defined herein above for use in a treatment comprising inducing or stimulating an immune response in a subject, wherein the treatment is the treatment of whooping cough. To this end, the subject is unvaccinated or may have been previously vaccinated against Bordetella. In addition or alternatively, the treatment is the prevention of whooping cough. It is further noted that the terms “whooping cough”, “pertussis” and “100-day cough” may be used interchangeable herein.

In a preferred embodiment, the pharmaceutical composition of the invention is a vaccine. The vaccine can be an acellular vaccine preferably comprising at least one of a Bordetella LPS and an OMV as defined herein above. More preferably, the vaccine is a whole cell vaccine comprising at least a bacterium as herein defined above.

Hence the invention pertains to a (pharmaceutical) composition for use as a medicament, and preferably for use in a treatment comprising inducing or stimulating an immune response in a subject, wherein the composition is a whole cell vaccine comprising a genetically modified bacterium as defined above. The genetically modified bacterium of the invention may be a live or live attenuated bacterium or non-viable bacterium. Preferably, the bacterium is inactivated or killed using means known in the art per se. For example, the genetically modified bacterium may have been inactivated by freezing, heat treatment, mechanical disruption, chemical treatment or other methods known in the art of pharmacy and vaccination (see e.g. J. L. Pace, H. A. Rossi, V. M. Esposito, S. M. Frey, K. D. Tucker, R. I. Walker. Inactivated whole-cell bacterial vaccines: current status and novel strategies. Vaccine 16: 1563-1574 (1998)). Preferably the bacterium is a Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica and most preferably a Bordetella pertussis.

In an alternatively preferred embodiment, the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention is an acellular vaccine comprising a Bordetella LPS as defined herein above or an OMV as defined herein above.

The (acellular) vaccine of the invention may further comprise 1, 2, 3 or more immunogenic components of the bacterium of the genus Bordetella. Preferably, the (acellular) vaccine further comprises inactivated Bordetella toxin either alone or in combination with other Bordetella components such as filamentous haemagglutinin, fimbrial antigens and pertactin.

The modified LPS or OMV as defined herein may be used for eliciting a protective immune response against the Bordetella bacterium producing it, but alternatively may also be used and admixed to other compositions. In another embodiment, the invention therefore pertains to a compositions as defined above for use as a medicament, or for use in a treatment comprising inducing or stimulating an immune response in a subject, wherein the composition further comprises at least one non-Bordetella antigen. The antigen is any antigen as defined above. In particular, a Bordetella vaccine may be combined with other vaccines known in the art. In a preferred embodiment the Bordetella vaccine, and most preferably the whole cell Bordetella vaccine, is combined with at least one of a diphtheria and tetanus vaccine. In a most preferred embodiment, the (whole cell) Bordetella vaccine is combined with a diphtheria as well as a tetanus vaccine.

In seventh aspect, the LPS of the invention is for use as a suitable adjuvant substance. LPS is known in the art to be a suitable adjuvant for vaccination purposes, activating Toll like receptors and stimulating an innate immune response. Partially detoxified LPS and/or lipid A according to the invention may retain this immune stimulating (adjuvant) activity, while causing less toxicity related adverse side effects, such as local swelling, redness, pain and fever.

Pharmaceutically acceptable composition and vaccines according to the invention may be used in methods of treatment of subjects suffering from or at risk of acquiring a pathogenic, gram-negative bacterial infection, preferably a Bordetella infection, comprising administering the pharmaceutical composition, a whole cell or an a-cellular vaccine according to the invention. The use of specific adjuvants, the relative and absolute amounts of substances in the compositions and the doses regimen for the administration are known or may be determined by the skilled person and may be adapted for the circumstances such as the particular pathogenic infection or the status of the particular subject to be treated. The doses regimen may comprise a single dose but may also comprise multiple doses, for instance booster doses and may be administered orally, intranasally or parenterally. Various doses regimens for vaccination purposes are known in the art and may be suitably adapted by the skilled person.

In an eighth aspect, the invention relates to a modified Bordetella LPS of the invention for use as a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonist. Preferably, such antagonist may be used in the treatment or reduction of sepsis or against a massive immune reaction, such a cytokine storm. More preferably, the modified LPS of the invention be used for the treatment of a cytokine storm occurring during an influenza infection.

In a ninth aspect, the invention pertains to a process for producing a genetically modified bacterium of the genus Bordetella, the Bordetella LPS or an OMV of the invention. The process preferably comprises the steps of a) cultivating a genetically modified bacterium as herein defined above; and optionally b) at least one of purifying and inactivating the genetically modified bacterium. In addition, or instead of step b), the LPS or OMV may be extracted and/or purified. Methods for purifying and inactivating Bordetella are well-known in the art. Similarly, the purifying/extraction of LPS or OMV can be performed using any suitable method known in the art.

In a tenth aspect, the invention relates to producing a vaccine formulation comprising at least one of an inactivated modified Bordetella bacterium, OMV and LPS as defined herein. The process preferably comprises the steps of a)) cultivating a genetically modified bacterium as herein defined above; b) at least one of purifying and inactivating the genetically modified bacterium and c) formulating at least one of the Bordetella bacterium, OMV and LPS, optionally with further vaccine components, into a vaccine formulation. In addition, or instead of step b), the LPS or OMV may be extracted and/or purified.

It is further understood that the use of the composition in treatments of medical conditions as specified above also includes the use of the compositions for the manufacture of a medicament for the corresponding medical treatments, as well as, methods for treating a subject suffering from such medical conditions by administering an effective amount of the compositions to the subject.

In this document and in its claims, the verb “to comprise” and its conjugations is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. In addition, reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be one and only one of the elements. The indefinite article “a” or “an” thus usually means “at least one”.

All patent and literature references cited in the present specification are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The following examples are offered for illustrative purposes only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any way.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1. Lipid A structure of wild-type and genetically modified B. pertussis. (A) Lipid A structure of wild-type B. pertussis. B) predicted lipid A structure of B. pertussis expressing LpxA_((Nm)) ΔlpxA. C) Lipid A structure of B. pertussis expressing LpxA_((Pa))ΔlpxA. D) Lipid A structure of B. pertussis expressing LpxL_((Nm))ΔlpxL and E) Lipid A structure of B. pertussis expressing LpxL_((Pg))ΔlpxL and F) Lipid A structure of B. pertussis expressing LpxD_((Pa))ΔlpxD and ΔlpxA, ΔlpxL and ΔlpxD indicate inactivation of the chromosomal lpxA, lpxL and ΔlpxD genes, respectively.

FIG. 2. Implication of the expression of heterologous enzymes on growth. A) The OD₅₉₀ of cultures of B213 and derivatives expressing LpxL_((Nm)), LpxA_((Pa)), or LpxL_((Pg)) from pMMB67EH plasmids, after 18 h of growth in Verweij medium in the presence of 1 mM IPTG is shown. The starting OD₅₉₀ was 0.05. Data are from one representative experiment performed in duplicate of which average and standard variation are given. The growth defect of the strain expressing LpxL_((Nm)) was reproduced in two additional experiments. B) LpxD_((Pa)) The OD at 590 nm (OD₅₉₀) of cultures of B213 and B213-pLpxD_(Pa) clone 4 (cl4) and clone 5 (cl5) after 12 and 24 h of growth in liquid Verweij medium in the presence of 1 mM of IPTG is shown. The starting OD₅₉₀ was 0.05.

FIG. 3. Structural analysis by ESI-MS of lipid A. Negative-ion lipid A mass spectra were obtained by in-source collision-induced dissociation nano-ESI-FT-MS of intact LPS isolated from cells of B213, B213 expressing LpxA_((Pa)) (B213-pLpxA_((Pa))), ΔlpxA mutant of B213 expressing LpxA_((Pa)) (B213ΔlpxA-pLpxA_((Pa))) backgrounds, B213 expressing LpxL_((Nm)) (B213-pLpxL_((Nm))), B213 expressing LpxL_((Pg)) (B213-pLpxL_((Pg))) and B213 expressing LpxD_((Pa)) (B213-pLpxD_((Pa))) (clones 4 and 5). Bacteria were grown for 12 h in liquid Verweij medium in the presence of 1 mM of IPTG. A major singly-deprotonated ion at m/z 1557.97 was interpreted as the typical B. pertussis lipid A structure: a diglucosamine (2 GlcN) penta-acylated (three 3OH—C14, one 3OH—C10 and one C14) with two phosphates residues (2 P) as illustrated in FIG. 1. Additional singly-deprotonated lipid A ions were detected in different derivatives and their interpretations are also indicated. Only the m/z range covering lipid A ions is shown.

FIG. 4. Stimulation of HEK293 cells expressing hTLR4 (A, C) or mTLR4 (B, D) with purified LPS (A, B) or whole-cell preparations of B213 and LPS mutant derivatives (C, D). LPS preparations and bacterial suspensions, adjusted to an OD₅₉₀ of 0.1, were serially diluted. After incubation for 2 h with HEK293 cells expressing mTLR4 or 4 h with HEK293 cells expressing hTLR4, alkaline phosphatase activity was determined by adding substrate and measuring the OD at 630 nm. One representative experiment is shown.

FIG. 5. Stimulation of HEK293 cells expressing hTLR4 with LPS purified from B213, B213ΔlpxA-pLpxA_((Pa)), and B213-pLpxD_((Pa)) cl4 and cl5. Purified LPS at a concentration of 2 μg/ml was serially diluted, added to the cultured cells and incubated for 4 h. The OD at 630 nm resulting of SEAP activity is provided.

FIG. 6. In vivo pyrogenicity. Pyrogenicity in rabbits induced by mutant Bordetella pertussis LPS purified from an lpxA_((Pa)) mutant and from an lpxD_((Pa)) mutant, and with OMVs extracted from the lpxD_((Pa)) mutant, all in comparison to B. pertussis wildtype LPS and OMVs. Pyrogenicity is expressed as area under curve for 0-48 h and 0-8 h intervals.

EXAMPLES Example 1

Material and Methods

Plasmids, Strains and Growth Conditions

Table 1 lists all plasmids and strains used in this study. B. pertussis strains were cultured on Bordet-Gengou agar (Difco) supplemented with 15% defibrinated sheep blood (Biotrading) for 48 h at 35° C. To grow the bacteria in liquid cultures, bacteria were collected from solid medium and diluted in Verweij medium [16] to an OD₅₉₀ of 0.05 and incubated in 125-ml square media bottles with constant shaking at 175 rpm. In some assays, the bacteria were inactivated by incubation for 1 h at 60° C., resuspended in PBS and adjusted to an OD₅₉₀ of 0.5. E. coli strains were grown in lysogeny broth (LB) or LB agar at 37° C.

For all strains, media were supplemented with kanamycin (100 μg ml⁻¹), gentamicin (10 μg ml⁻¹), ampicillin (100 μg ml⁻¹), nalidixic acid (50 μg ml⁻¹), or streptomycin (300 μg ml⁻¹) when required, and with 0.1 or 1 mM isopropyl-β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) for E. coli or B. pertussis, respectively, to induce protein expression.

TABLE 1 Used plasmids and strains Plasmids/Strains Characteristics Plasmids pMMB67EH Broad host-range vector, Ptac, lacl^(q), Amp^(R) pKAS32 Allelic exchange suicide vector, Amp^(R) pMMB67EH-PagL_((Pa)) pMMB67EH harboring pagL from P. aeruginosa PAO1 pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Nm)) pMMB67EH harboring lpxA from N. meningitidis H44/76 pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Pa)) pMMB67EH harboring lpxA from P. aeruginosa PAO1 pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Nm)) pMMB67EH harboring lpxL from N. meningitidis H44/76 pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Pg)) pMMB67EH harboring lpxL from Po. gingivalis ATCC33277 pMMB67EH-LpxD_((Pa)) pMMB67EH harboring lpxD from P. aeruginosa PAO1 pKA32-ABGH LpxL::gm pKAS32 derivative harboring lpxL₁-lpxL₂ knockout construct, Amp^(R), Gm^(R) pRTP113368K2a lpxL2 knockout construct, Amp^(R), Kan^(R) (kan in similar orientation as the operon) pRTP113368 k1a lpxL2 knockout construct, Amp^(R), Kan^(R) (kan in opposite orientation as the operon) pRT669 lpxA knockout construct, Amp^(R), Kan^(R) (kan in opposite orientation as the lpxA gene) Strains Escherichia coli DH5α F⁻, Δ(lacZYA-argF)U169 thi-1 hsdR17 gyrA96 recA 1 endA 1 supE44 relA1 phoA ϕ80 dlacZΔM15 SM10λpir thi thr leu fhuA lacY supE recA::RP4-2-Tc::Mu λpir R6K Kan^(R) BL21(DE3) Contains gene for T7 DNA polymerase BL21-pLpxA_((Nm)) BL21(DE3) carrying pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Nm)) BL21-pLpxA_((Pa)) BL21(DE3) carrying pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Pa)) BL21-pLpxL_((Nm)) BL21(DE3) carrying pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Nm)) BL21-pLpxL_((Pg)) BL21(DE3) carrying pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Pg)) BL21-pLpxD_((Pa)) BL21(DE3) carrying pMMB67EH-LpxD_((Pa)) Bordetella pertussis B213 Nal^(R) Str^(R) derivative of strain Tohama I B213-pLpxA_((Pa)) B213 carrying pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Pa)) B213 ΔlpxA-pLpxA_((Pa)) B213 carrying pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Pa)) with an inactivated lpxA gene B213-pLpxL_((Nm)) B213 carrying pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Nm)) B213-pLpxL_((Pg)) B213 carrying pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Pg)) B213-pLpxD_((Pa)) B213 carrying pMMB67EH-LpxD_((Pa)) AmpR, ampicilin resistance; GmR, gentamicin resistance, KanR, kanamycin resistance; StrR, streptomycin resistance Genetic Manipulations

PCRs were performed using High Fidelity Polymerase (Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Germany). PCR mixes consisted of 1 μl of template DNA, 200 μM dNTPs (Fermentas), 0.25 μM of different primer combinations (SEQ ID NO: 7-24, see Table 2), 0.5 U DNA polymerase, and PCR buffer. The mixtures were incubated for 10 min at 95° C. for DNA denaturation, followed by 30 cycles of 1 min at 95° C., 0.5 min at 58° C. and elongation at 72° C. for 1 min per kbp of expected amplicon size. The reaction was terminated with an extended elongation step for 10 min at 72° C. The resulting products were separated on 1% agarose gels by electrophoresis and visualized using ethidium bromide.

Genes encoding LPS biosynthesis enzymes of different bacteria were amplified by PCR from bacterial stocks and cloned into broad host-range expression vector pMMB67EH. To this end, PCR products and plasmid pMMB67EH-PagL_((Pa)) were purified using the Clean-Up System and Plasmid Extraction kit, respectively, both provided by Promega. Purified plasmid and PCR products were digested with the restriction enzymes (Fermentas, The Netherlands) for which sites were included in the primers (SEQ ID NOs: 7-24, 26 and 27 see Table 2) and subsequently ligated together. To knock out the chromosomal lpxA and lpxL genes, the plasmids were used.

E. coli DH5a was transformed with ligation products or plasmids following standard protocols. Correct clones were elected by PCR, and plasmids were purified and sequenced at the Macrogen sequencing service (Amsterdam). Then, plasmids were transferred to E. coli strain SM10λpir by transformation and subsequently to B. pertussis strain B213 by conjugation using ampicillin and nalidixic acid for selection and counter selection, respectively. To generate chromosomal mutations, the knockout plasmids, which contained a rpsL gene conferring streptomycin sensititvity (Skorupsky and Taylor, 1996) were integrated into the chromosome by single crossover by selecting for kanamycin- or gentamicin-resistant transconjugants; the resulting bacteria had lost streptomycin resistance. Subsequently, to select for plasmid loss by a second crossover, bacteria were cultured in liquid medium and mutants were selected on plates with streptomycin and kanamycin or gentamicin. The presence of the plasmids in B. pertussis transconjugants and the proper generation of knockout mutants were verified by PCR.

To express the target enzyme LpxD_(Pa) in B. pertussis, vector pMMB67EH was used lpxD was amplified by PCR from P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 using a proof—reading enzyme (High Fidelity Polymerase, Roche Diagnostics GmbH) with primers LpxD-Fw Pa Ndel (having SEQ ID NO:26) and LpxD-rev-His Pa HindIII (having SEQ ID NO:27). The primers both contain sequences for restriction enzymes to facilitate cloning and the reverse primer also contains a sequence encoding a Hiss-tag to facilitate the detection of the recombinant protein via western blotting. After cloning the PCR product behind the tac promoter on pMMB67EH, the correct sequence of the insert was confirmed.

RNA Extraction and RT-PCR

To obtain RNA, cells from exponentially growing cultures were collected by centrifugation for 10 min at 5000 rpm in an Eppendorf Centrifuge 5424, adjusted to an OD₅₅₀ of 4, and resuspended in trizol (Invitrogen, U.K.). Then, 200 μl of chloroform were added per ml of trizol, followed by centrifugation at 5000 rpm for 30 min. The resulting upper layer was mixed with an equal amount of ice-cold 75% ethanol. Next, RNA was isolated using the Nucleospin RNA II kit (Macherey-Nagel, U.S.A.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. The resulting solution was treated with Turbo DNA free (Ambion, Germany) for 1 h at 37° C. to remove genomic DNA followed by DNase inactivation according to recommendations of the manufacturer to generate pure RNA. This was used immediately to generate cDNA using the Transcriptor High Fidelity cDNA Synthesis Kit (Roche, The Netherlands). RNA, cDNA and chromosomal DNA were used as templates in PCRs with primers (see Table 2, SEQ ID NOs: 7-24, 26 and 27) to determine the generation of specific transcripts.

Electrophoretic Techniques

Whole cell lysates were adjusted to an OD₆₀₀ of 5.0 solubilized in 1:1 in double-strength sample buffer and heated for 10 min at 100° C. For LPS visualization, after boiling, whole cell lysates were treated with proteinase K during 1 h at 37° C. Proteins and LPS were separated on 14% and 16% acrylamide gels, respectively, after which they were stained with Coomassie brilliant blue G250 or silver stain, respectively.

LPS Purification and Analysis

LPS were extracted from bacteria with hot phenol-water (Westphal, 1965) and purified further by solid phase extraction (SPE) on C8 reversed-phase cartridges. Briefly, bacteria were collected from culture suspensions by centrifugation, suspended with water at 70° C. and mixed with 0.8 volumes of phenol at the same temperature. After separating the aqueous and phenolic phase by centrifugation, the aqueous phase was prepared for SPE by adding one volume of 0.356 M triethylammonium acetate (TEAA) pH 7 (solvent A) and ⅓ volume of 2-propanol:water:triethylamine:acetic acid (70:30:0.03:0.01, v/v) pH 8.9 (solvent B). LPS extracts were purified simultaneously by SPE on reversed-phase Sep-Pak C8 cartridges (3 ml syringe-barrel-type Vac cartridge, 200 mg of C8 resin, Waters) using a 20-position vacuum manifold (Waters). Cartridges were conditioned for SPE by applying consecutively 3×1 ml of solvent B, 2-propanol:water:triethylamine:acetic acid (10:90:0.03:0.01, v/v) pH 8.9 (solvent C), 0.07 mM TEAA pH 7 (solvent D) and solvent A under vacuum. Then, samples were loaded into the cartridges and each cartridge was washed with 3×1 ml of solvents A, D and C, in this order. LPS were eluted from the columns by applying 2×0.3 ml of solvent B. Eluates were dried in a centrifugal vacuum concentrator and suspended in water. The purity and integrity of purified samples were judged by Tricine-SDS-PAGE combined with LPS silver and Coomassie staining. For analysis of lipid A structure, negative-ion nano-electrospray ionization—Fourier transform-mass spectrometry (nano-ESI-FT-MS) of purified LPS was performed on an LTQ Orbitrap XL instrument (Thermo Scientific). LPS samples were dissolved in a mixture of 2-propanol, water and triethylamine (50:50:0.001, vol/vol/vol) pH 8.5 and infused into the mass spectrometer by nano-ESI using gold-coated pulled glass capillaries, as described previously (Pupo et al, 2014) (Kondakov, A., and Lindner, B. (2005) Structural characterization of complex bacterial glycolipids by Fourier transform mass spectrometry. Eur J Mass Spectrom (Chichester, Eng) 11, 535-546). The spray voltage was set to −1.2 kV and the temperature of the heated capillary to 250° C. Under these ionization conditions no appreciable fragmentation of LPS was produced. To record lipid A mass spectra, nano-ESI-FT-MS of LPS was performed with in-source collision-induced dissociation (CID) at a potential difference of 100 V. In-source CID under this setting produced intense fragment ions corresponding to intact lipid A domains, which originate from the rupture of the labile linkage between the non-reducing lipid A glucosamine and Kdo, with minimal lipid A fragmentation, as shown in the mass spectra of the lipid A of the wild-type B213 strain (FIG. 3a ).

Eukaryotic Cell Lines Culture and Stimulation

Human NF-κB/SEAP reporter HEK293 cells transfected either with human or mouse TLR4 in combination with MD-2 and CD14 were purchased from InvivoGen. Both cell lines contain an NF-κB-inducible secreted embryonic alkaline phosphatase (SEAP) reporter gene, which is expressed after TLR signaling. The cells were grown in HEK-Blue culture medium as described before [19]. SEAP was detected in culture supernatants after adding the substrate Quanti-Blue (InvivoGen). The human monocytic cell line MonoMac6 (MM6; DSMZ) was grown in Iscove's modified Dulbecco's medium (IMDM; Gibco) supplemented with 10% heat-inactivated FCS, 50 U/ml penicillin, and 50 μg/ml streptomycin. All cell lines were cultured at 37° C. in a 5% saturated CO₂ atmosphere.

For TLR4 signaling, HEK-Blue cell lines (2.5×10⁴) were incubated with serial dilutions of purified LPS or heat-inactivated whole cell preparations in a 96-well plate. After 2, 4 or 6 h of incubation at 37° C., supernatants were collected and incubated for 2 h with Quanti-Blue substrate and the OD₆₃₀ was measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader.

Results

Expression of Heterologous LpxLs and LpxAs in B. pertussis

To modify the length of the primary acyl chains at the 3 and 3′ positions and of the only secondary acyl chain in B. pertussis lipid A, we made use of LpxA and LpxL acyl transferases from other bacteria. B. pertussis lipid A contains 3OH—C10 and 3OH—C14 chains at the 3 and 3′ positions, respectively (FIG. 1a ). We investigated whether the replacement of LpxA by the corresponding enzymes from Neisseria meningitidis (LpxA_((Nm))) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (LpxA_((Pa))) would result in modifications of the acyl chains. Similarly, we investigated whether substitution of LpxL of B. pertussis by the corresponding enzymes from Porphyromonas gingivalis (LpxL_((Pg))) or N. meningitidis (LpxL_((Nm))) would result in a modification of the acyl chains.

The genes for the heterologous enzymes were cloned into the broad host-range expression vector pMMB67EH under the control of the tac promoter. The expression of the recombinant enzymes LpxA and LpxL was first evaluated in the cloning host E. coli BL21(DE3) by RT-PCR (data not shown). These assays confirmed the presence of transcripts of the genes of interest when the bacteria were grown with IPTG whilst these transcripts were much less abundant or undetectable when the bacteria were grown in the absence of IPTG. Protein expression was also detected by SDS-PAGE; LpxA proteins were expressed in higher abundance than LpxL proteins (data not shown).

The plasmids were then transferred to B. pertussis strain B213, a derivative of strain Tohama I (Table 1). Surprisingly, although pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Nm)) was successfully introduced in B. pertussis as evidenced by PCR, the transconjugants failed to grow after being replated on plates containing ampicillin for plasmid maintenance and no IPTG. Thus, apparently, even uninduced expression levels of LpxA from N. meningitidis are lethal in B. pertussis, although this is not the case in E. coli. The LPS predicted to be produced by the introduction of the Lpx_((Nm)) enzyme is depicted in FIG. 1B. We noticed also that expression of LpxL_((Nm)) impaired growth (Fig S1C). All other recombinant strains grew as the wild-type (FIG. 2 (S1C)).

Expression of the recombinant protein LpxD_((Pa)) was first tested in Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3), to which the plasmid was transferred. The resulting strain is called BL21-pLpxD_(Pa). Addition of IPTG to the culture did not affect growth (data not shown). Expression of the protein was not detected on regular Coomassie blue-stained gels on which whole cell lysates of BL21(DE3) and BL21-pLpxD_(Pa) were analyzed. However, Western blotting assays showed a reaction of an anti-Hiss-tag antibody with a band of the expected size of LpxD_(Pa) (36.4 kDa) in BL21-pLpxD_(Pa) (data not shown), which was not present in the sample of BL21(DE3). Next, the plasmid was transferred to B. pertussis B213 by conjugation using E. coli strain SM10λpir as donor, and two transconjugants were saved. In the presence of 1 mM IPTG, both clones showed a growth defect as compared with the parent (FIG. 2B), which was more pronounced for clone 5. Western blotting assays confirmed the expression of the enzyme in both clones (data not shown), while no differences in expression levels were observed.

Analysis of Recombinant Lipid a Structures

The lipid A structures were then analyzed by nano-ESI-MS using purified LPS extracted from whole cells grown in the presence of 1 mM IPTG for 12 h (logarithmic growth). For the wild-type strain, a major peak was observed at m/z 1557.97 that corresponds with the expected bis-phosphorylated penta-acetylated lipid A (FIG. 3A). In the strain expressing LpxA_((Pa)), the spectrum revealed, besides the ion at m/z 1557.97, two additional ions at m/z 1501.91 and 1529.94 (FIG. 3B). The ion at m/z 1501.91 corresponds with a substitution of the primary 3OH—C14 acyl chain at the 3′ position by 3OH—C10 (FIG. 1C), whilst the m/z 1529.94 ion indicates the presence of a hydroxylated fatty acid with an intermediary C12 chain length. The relative abundance of the two new species was only 48 and 75% relative to the wild-type structure at m/z 1557.97, which could be due to the expression of the endogenic lpxA on the chromosome. Therefore, we decided to knock out the chromosomal lpxA copy. MS analysis of the resulting strain evidenced the complete loss of the m/z 1557.97 ion and a drastic decrease of the abundance of the m/z 1529.94 ion leaving a major peak of m/z 1501.91 corresponding to the substitution (FIG. 1C and FIG. 3C).

MS analysis of B213-LpxL_((Nm)) detected the wild-type m/z 1557.97 ion as a minor species, whilst a major peak of m/z 1529.94 corresponded with a substitution of the secondary C14 acyl chain by C12 (FIG. 1D and FIG. 3D). Attempts to delete the chromosomal lpxL failed. B. pertussis contains two adjacent lpxL homologues on the chromosome, but only one, called lpxL2, is active under laboratory growth conditions [20]. Different constructs were used to delete the lpxL2 gene partially or completely; however, in spite of considerable efforts, we could not obtain the desired knockout.

Apparently, the lpxL2 gene sequence rather than the enzyme is essential for B. pertussis considering that expression of LpxL_((Nm)) in the wild-type strain already altered about 65% of the lipid A structure. This could be due to a polar effect of lpxL2 disruption on expression of the downstream gene dapF, which encodes for L,L-DAP epimerase that catalyzes L,L-diaminopimelate (DAP) into meso-DAP Meso-DAP is vital for cell wall synthesis and lysine biosynthesis. However, also attempts to inactivate the lpxL₂ gene in the presence of meso-DAP failed. MS analysis of B213-LpxL_((Pg)) evidenced a drastic reduction in the abundance of the m/z 1557.98 ion and the appearance of a new peak of m/z 1586.01 that corresponds with a substitution of the C14 by a C16 chain (FIG. 1E and FIG. 2e ). In summary, heterologous expression of LpxA_((Pa)), LpxL_((Nm)), and LpxL_((Pg)) in B. pertussis resulted in LPS alterations as depicted in FIG. 1.

Analysis of B213-pLpxD_((Pa)) clones 4 and 5 revealed that in both mutants, ions at m/z 1557.97 were found corresponding with the standard penta-acylated lipid A as found in the wild-type (FIGS. 3F and 3G). In addition, abundant ions at m/z 1529.94 and 1501.91 were found corresponding with the reduction of the length of one or two acyl chains from 3OH—C14 to 3OH—C12, respectively (FIGS. 3F and 3G). The abundance of these additional major ions varied between both clones; the relative abundance of the peak at m/z 1529.94 was lower in clone 5 than in clone 4, and vice versa for the peak at m/z 1501.91. Thus, clone 5 had a higher amount of lipid A molecules with an entire modification of the length of both acyl chains in the lipid A than clone 4, but considerable amounts of unaltered lipid A remained in both cases. These results show that the expression of LpxD_(Pa) modified the structure of lipid A as shown in FIG. 1.

Differential Activation of TLR4 by the LPS Variants

We next investigated whether the altered structure affects the toxicity of the LPS. To this end, purified LPS preparations were added to cultures of HEK293 cells expressing the human or mouse TLR4 complex (hTLR4 and mTLR4, respectively). After exposure, the activation of the receptor was evaluated by the expression of a reporter gene (FIG. 4). Interestingly, LPS from B213-pLpxA_((Pa)) stimulated hTLR4 much less than LPS from the wild-type strain (FIG. 4A). The residual activation still detected was due to the expression of the chromosomal lpxA gene, since it was totally eliminated after inactivation of this gene (FIG. 4A). Thus, the length of the primary acyl chain at the 3′ position is relevant for the activation of hTLR4 by pertussis LPS. LPS from B213-pLpxL_((Nm)) and B213-pLpxL_((Pg)) reduced and increased hTLR4 activation, respectively (FIG. 4A). Hence, stimulation of hTLR4 correlates with the length of the secondary acyl chain in the order C16>C14>C12.

To evaluate the toxicity of the altered LPS of the strains expressing LpxD_((Pa)), preparations of purified LPS from both mutants and the wild-type were added to cultures of HEK-Blue cells expressing the human TLR4 receptor (hTLR4) (InvivoGen). As a negative control, we used purified LPS from strain B213ΔlpxA-pLpxA_((Pa)), which contains a 3OH—C10 acyl chain instead of 3OH—C14 at the 3′ position and did not activate hTLR4. The activation of the receptor was evaluated by the expression of a SEAP reporter gene after 4 h of exposure, and the results are presented in FIG. 5. LPS from B213-pLpxD_((Pa)) clone 4 and clone 5 showed considerably lower activity than wild-type LPS. The SEAP activity of cells stimulated with LPS from clone 5 was as low as that of non-stimulated cells, while cells stimulated with LPS from clone 4 showed low residual activity, perhaps in agreement with a somewhat less efficient modification of the acyl chains in this clone (FIG. 3). Cells stimulated with LPS from B213ΔlpxA-pLpxA_((Pa)) showed even lower SEAP activity than non-stimulated cells.

Stimulation of HEK293 cells expressing mTLR4 with LPS preparations from wild-type strain B213 resulted in a stronger response than observed in the cells expressing hTLR4 (compare FIGS. 4A and B). LPS preparations from B213 cells expressing the heterologous enzymes were slightly less effective in stimulating these cells (FIG. 4B). However when the chromosomal lpxA gene was inactivated in B213 expressing LpxA_((Pa)), the resulting LPS did not activate mTLR4 at all (FIG. 4B). Thus, the human and mouse TLR4 are activated differently by modified pertussis LPS, but the length of the primary acyl chain at the 3′ position is critical in both cases. It was reported previously that the decreased toxicity of B. pertussis LPS that had lost the primary acyl chain at the 3 position was nullified in whole-cell preparations by its increased release from the membranes [2]. Taking this into account, we wished to determine the biological activity of whole-cell preparations. Expression of heterologous LPS enzymes in strain B213 affected the stimulation of HEK293 cells expressing hTLR4 similarly in whole-cell and purified LPS preparations (compare FIGS. 4A and C). Stimulation of HEK293 cells expressing mTLR4 by whole-cell preparations was barely affected by the expression of the heterologous enzymes in B213 (FIG. 4D). However, whole-cell preparations of the ΔlpxA mutant of B213 expressing LpxA_((Pa)) failed to activate these cells (FIG. 4D).

DISCUSSION

Their reactogenicity has led to the replacement of whole-cell pertussis vaccines by subunit vaccines, which, however, do not provide satisfactory protection. The development of new, less reactogenic whole-cell vaccines could offer a solution. LPS is, to a considerable extent, responsible for the toxicity of the cellular pertussis vaccines [2]. In the present study, we investigated if modification of acyl chain length in B. pertussis lipid A could result in reduced toxicity. We altered the length of primary acyl chain at the 3′ position and of the secondary acyl chain at 2′ position by expression of heterologous LpxA and LpxL acyltransferases. We found that reduction in the length of both acyl chains resulted in a drastic decrease in LPS toxicity (FIG. 4).

More precisely, substitution of a 3OH—C10 acyl chain for the 3OH—C14 chain present at the 3′ position of lipid A abolished endotoxicity. In addition, substitution of the secondary C14 chain attached to the primary acyl chain at the 2′ position by a C12 reduced endotoxicity. Consistently, the endotoxicity increased when this chain was substituted by a C16.

It was further observed that the reduction of the length of the acyl chains at the 2 and 2′ positions of B. pertussis lipid A also has a large impact on the activation of hTLR4. Considering that the effect on toxicity is obtained independent of the position of the shorter acyl chain, the total volume of the hydrophobic moiety of the lipid A molecule is apparently important for the proper binding to and activation of the hTLR4 complex. The novel LPS species generated seem to function as hTLR4 antagonist as they could deplete any hTRL4 response (FIG. 5) even in the presence of considerable amounts of wild-type LPS (FIG. 3). This may not to be the case for LPS with a shorter secondary acyl chain as LPS from B213-pLpxL_((Nm)) showed residual activity in activating hTLR4 even though it contained lower amounts of the wild-type LPS than the purified LPS preparations from the strains expressing LpxA_((Pa)) or LpxD_((Pa)). It should be noted that expression of LpxD_((Pa)) in B. pertussis caused growth defects. Similarly, our previous results showed a growth defect of B. pertussis expressing LpxL_((Nm)).

In summary, our results demonstrate the importance of the acyl-chain length for activation of the immune system and for endotoxicity of B. pertussis LPS.

Our results also revealed a different effect of the LPS modifications on activation of mouse and human TLR4, where, in most cases, mTLR4 was less sensitive to the modifications. Previous studies reported species-dependent differences regarding TLR4 activation [24; 25]. These differences are explicable by interspecies variation in MD-2 and TLR4. These differences limit extrapolation of data from experimental animals to humans in vaccine trials [25]. Importantly, however, the LPS of the lpxA knockout mutant of strain B213 expressing LpxA_((Pa)) failed to activate both mTLR4 and hTLR4 in vitro allowing for extrapolation of results of planned experiments in mice to humans.

It is remarkable that the acyl chains at the 3 and 3′ positions of B. pertussis lipid A differ in length [4]. LpxA catalyzes the first reaction in the lipid A biosynthetic pathway by transferring an acyl chain of a specific length onto the 3 position of GlcNAc in UDP-GlcNAc. The exact length of this acyl chain is defined by a hydrocarbon ruler in LpxA [26]. Later in the pathway, LpxH removes UMP in a proportion of the population of UDP-diacylglucosamine (UDP-DAG) precursors generating lipid X, after which LpxB links a UDP-DAG and a lipid X molecule generating a mono-phosphorylated, tetra-acylated glucosamine disaccharide in which the acyl chains at positions 3 and 3′ are both derived from the original acylation by LpxA and, therefore, usually identical. Only rarely, LPS species with different acyl chain length at the 3 and 3′ positions are found in nature. Consistent with the different acyl-chain length, expression studies in E. coli showed that B. pertussis LpxA has reduced chain-length specificity, but acyl chains of various lengths were incorporated at both the 3 and 3′ positions [27]. Thus, the impeccable asymmetry in B. pertussis lipid A must be explained by chain-length specificity of an enzyme downstream in the pathway, which, we hypothesize, is LpxH. In our work, the expression of LpxA_((Pa)) resulted in two 3OH—C10 chains at positions 3 and 3′, which was tolerated. However, the expression of LpxA_((Nm)), which would result in two primary 3OH—C12 chains at these positions (FIG. 1), appeared to be lethal. This can be explained if LpxH of B. pertussis can remove UMP only from UDP-DAG molecules containing a short 3OH—C10 chain at the 3 position. Indeed when we expressed LpxH_((Nm)) in B. pertussis the asymmetry disappeared, confirming our LpxH hypothesis (data not shown). Similarly, the heterologous expression of both LpxA_((Nm)) and LpxH_((Nm)) resulted in viable cells (data not shown). Hence to obtain a modified Bordetella lipid A moiety having an acyl-chain at the 3-position that is longer than 3OH—C10, may (in addition to a modified acyl transferase) require the presence of a modified LpxH, such as LpxH_((Nm)).

In conclusion, our approaches to reduce the toxicity of whole-cell B. pertussis vaccines by lipid A engineering as disclosed herein were effective. Our results show that the endotoxic activity of B. pertussis LPS is largely determined by the length of its fatty acyl chains. For the first time, we succeeded to engineer a strain that is totally devoid of endotoxic activity in in vitro assays. Importantly, this LPS did also not activate mTLR4 in vitro allowing for extrapolation of data obtained in planned animal studies to humans. Hence, our findings will allow for the generation of new cellular vaccines for B. pertussis and other pathogens.

TABLE 2A SEQ ID NOs and corresponding protein and organism SEQ ID NO Protein Organism* 1 LpxA Pa (PA01) 2 LpxL Nm (H44/76) 3 LpxL Pg (ATCC33277) 4 LpxD Pa (PA01) 5 LpxH Nm (H44/76) 6 LpxA Nm (H44/76) 25 PagL Bb and Bp (GenBank WP-003813842.1) 28 LpxA Bpe (GenBank: CAE41721.1) 29 LpxD Bpe (GenBank: CAE41719.1) 30 LpxH Bpe (Genbank: CAE42187.1) 31 LpxL Bpe (Genbank: CAE43342.1) 32 LpxL Pa (Genbank: AAG06812.1) *Pa = Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Nm = Neisseria meningitidis, Pg = Porphyromonas gingivalis, Bb = B. bronchiseptica, Bp = Bordetella parapertussis, Bpe = Bordetella pertussis

TABLE 2B SEQ ID NOs and primer names SEQ ID NO Primer name Obtained product 7 LpxA_((Nm)) Fw pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Nm)) 8 LpxA_((Nm)) Rev 9 LpxA_((Pa)) Fw pMMB67EH-LpxA_((Pa)) 10 LpxA_((Pa)) Rev 11 LpxL_((Nm)) Fw pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Nm)) 12 LpxL_((Nm)) Rev 13 LpxL_((Pg)) Fw pMMB67EH-LpxL_((Pg)) 14 LpxL_((Pg)) Rev 15 LpxA_((Nm)) Fw RT lpxA_((Nm)) 16 LpxA_((Nm)) Rev RT 17 LpxA_((Pa)) Fw RT lpxL_((Pa)) 18 LpxA_((Pa)) Rev RT 19 LpxL_((Nm)) Fw RT lpxL_((Nm)) 20 LpxL_((Nm)) Rev RT 21 LpxL_((Pg)) Fw RT lpxL_((Pg)) 22 LpxL_((Pg)) Rev RT 23 Amp Fw RT amp 24 Amp Rev RT 26 LpxD_((Pa)) FW pMMB67EH-LpxD_((Pa)) 27 LpxD_((Pa)) Rev-His

Example 2

lpxD_((Pa)) and lpxA_((Pa)) LPS Mutants Show Reduced Pyrogenicity in Rabbits

Bordetella pertussis mutants were constructed with an altered lipid A moiety in their LPS through heterologous expression of lpxA and lpxD genes from Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Specifically, B. pertussis B1917 strains were constructed wherein either the chromosomal lpxA gene or the lpxD gene was replaced with the corresponding P. aeruginosa versions. In both cases, this resulted in the synthesis of LPS with the expected shortened acyl chains, as shown by mass spectrometry.

In order to test the effect of these alterations in vivo, a rabbit pyrogenicity test was conducted with LPS purified from the lpxA mutant and from the lpxD mutant, and with OMVs extracted from the lpxD mutant, all in comparison to the wildtype. OMV (nOMV) were extracted by detergent-free extraction of the bacterial biomass with EDTA as chelating agent, essentially as described by van de Waterbeemd et al. (2010, Vaccine, 28(30):4810-6).

New Zealand White rabbits were injected intramuscularly with 0.5 ml of solution containing nOMVs (50 μg of protein) or purified LPS (10 μg), and acellular pertussis vaccine and saline as controls. The following groups were used (5 animals per group):

-   -   1. Vehicle Control (saline)     -   2. Reference vaccine (acP)     -   3. Vaccine 1: B1917 nOMV ompA prn     -   4. Vaccine 2: B1917 nOMV ompA prn lpxD     -   5. Vaccine 3: B1917 LPS lpxD     -   6. Vaccine 4: B1917 LPS lpxA     -   7. Vaccine 5: B1917 LPS wildtype         Body temperature was measured using an external scanner from         subcutaneously implanted transponders, at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 24         and 48 hrs after injection. The results are shown in Table 3 and         in FIG. 6.         Results

A statistically significant rise in body temperature is seen with vaccine 1 (1, 2 and 4 h after injection) and vaccine 5 (4 h after injection). With purified LPS, there is a clear fever peak induced by the wildtype, but not by the lpxD and lpxA mutants. With OMVs, there is a more prolonged period of fever, both for wildtype and lpxD mutant, but lower for the latter. This is to be expected, as OMVs contain other pyrogenic components in addition to LPS.

CONCLUSIONS

The data demonstrate that mutant Bordetella LPS having a lipid A moiety wherein the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella show a clearly reduced pyrogenicity in rabbits. The above observed in vitro data with HEK cells expressing TLR4 are therefore corroborated by these in vivo data.

TABLE 3 Data of pyrogenicity study in rabbits. TempFirstInj Temp (sc) Temp (sc) Temp (sc) Temp (sc) Temp (sc) Temp (sc) Temp (sc) pretreat first inj first inj first inj first inj first inj first inj first inj (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) (° C.) [G] [C] [C1] [C] [C1] [C] [C] [C] Sex: Male 0 (PreDos) 0 (05hPtD) 0 (1hPstD) 0 (2hPstD) 0 (4hPstD) 0 (6hPstD) 1 (24hPtD) 2 (48hPtD) Vehicle Mean 38.52 38.40 39.00 38.44 38.18 38.40 38.50 38.48 SD 0.60 0.42 0.32 0.59 0.61 0.20 0.60 0.28 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Reference Mean 38.92 38.72 37.98* 38.66 38.84 38.72 38.38 38.28 vaccine SD 0.26 0.36 0.89 0.17 0.29 0.46 0.56 0.61 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Vaccine 1 Mean 37.90 38.34 39.78* 39.64* 40.18** 39.00 38.98 38.28 SD 0.69 0.38 0.38 0.40 0.70 0.95 0.48 0.44 N 5 5 5 5 5 4 5 5 Vaccine 2 Mean 38.20 38.52 39.32 39.52 39.54 38.76 38.76 38.08 SD 1.14 0.53 0.48 0.77 1.27 0.86 0.78 0.77 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Vaccine 3 Mean 38.06 37.84 39.20 38.76 39.38 38.22 37.96 38.36 SD 0.48 0.69 0.32 0.62 1.18 0.46 0.68 0.36 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Vaccine 4 Mean 38.06 38.46 38.68 38.90 38.54 38.48 38.12 38.38 SD 0.86 0.31 0.24 0.59 0.51 0.54 0.45 0.41 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 Vaccine 5 Mean 38.50 38.16 38.64 39.40 40.46** 38.76 38.74 38.34 Pos. cntrl SD 0.70 1.04 0.81 1.11 0.76 0.63 0.35 0.59 N 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 [G] - Ancova/Anova & Dunnett [C] - Ancova/Anova & Dunnett {Covariate: Temp (Sc) FirstInj (pretreat)}: *= p < 0.05 [C1] - Ancova/Anova & Dunnett(Rank) {Covariate: Temp (Sc) FirstInj (pretreat)}: *= p < 0.05; **= p < 0.01

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The invention claimed is:
 1. A genetically modified Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous acyl transferase activity, wherein the genetic modification that introduces heterologous acyl transferase activity confers to the cell at least one of a heterologous LpxA, LpxL and LpxD acyl transferase activity and wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of at least one of a heterologous LpxA, a LpxL, and a LpxD acyl transferase, wherein i) the LpxA acyl transferase has SEQ ID NO: 1, or a variant thereof having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 1; ii) the LpxL acyl transferase has SEQ ID NO: 2, or a variant thereof having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 2; and/or iii) the LpxD acyl transferase has SEQ ID NO: 4, or a variant thereof having at least 95% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO. 4, wherein expression of the heterologous acyl transferase results in a B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica LPS having a lipid A moiety that is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter and wherein the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety does not have a greater length than the acyl chain of the wild-type B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica lipid A moiety at the same 3 position.
 2. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1, wherein the bacterium is modified compared to the wild-type B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica bacterium in that it has a genetic modification that introduces a heterologous UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase activity.
 3. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 2, wherein the genetic modification introduces the expression of a heterologous lpxH UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase, and wherein the LpxH UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase has at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:
 5. 4. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 3, wherein the lpxH UDP-2,3-diacylglucosamine pyrophosphatase has SEQ ID NO:
 5. 5. Bordetella LPS, wherein the LPS is obtainable from a genetically modified B. pertussis, B. parapertussis or B. bronchiseptica bacterium according to claim
 1. 6. The Bordetella LPS according to claim 5, wherein at least 70% of the LPS has a modified lipid A moiety, wherein the lipid A moiety is modified as compared to the lipid A moiety of a wild-type Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis or Bordetella bronchiseptica LPS in that the length of at least one acyl chain is shorter, and wherein the shorter acyl chain selected from the group consisting of: i) the acyl chain at the 3′ position of the lipid A moiety is C10; ii) the primary acyl chain at the 2′ position of the lipid A moiety is C12; iii) the secondary acyl chain at the 2′ position of the lipid A moiety is C12; and iv) the acyl chain at the 2 position of the Lipid A moiety is C12, and wherein the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety does not have a greater length than the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety at the same 3 position.
 7. The Bordetella LPS according to claim 6, wherein the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety is not greater than C10.
 8. The Bordetella LPS according to claim 7, wherein the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position of the modified lipid A moiety has the same length as the acyl chain of the wild-type Bordetella lipid A moiety at the same 3 position.
 9. The Bordetella LPS according to claim 8, wherein the length of the acyl chain at the 3 position is C10.
 10. An OMV obtainable from the genetically modified bacterium as defined in claim
 1. 11. A composition comprising at least one of: Bordetella LPS obtainable from a genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1; a genetically modified bacterium of claim 1; and an OMV obtainable from the genetically modified bacterium of claim 1, wherein optionally the composition is a pharmaceutical composition further comprising a pharmaceutically accepted excipient.
 12. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the genetically modified bacterium is inactivated.
 13. The composition according to claim 11, wherein the composition further comprises at least one non-Bordetella antigen.
 14. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1, wherein the bacterium is a genetically modified Bordetella pertussis.
 15. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 14, wherein the bacterium is a genetically modified Bordetella pertussis B213 strain.
 16. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1, wherein the bacterium has a genetic modification that increases the expression of a lipid A 3-O-deacylase, and wherein the lipid A 3-O-deacylase has at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:
 25. 17. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1, wherein the modified bacterium further comprises a genetic mutation that reduces or eliminates the activity and/or expression of an endogenous LpxA acyl transferase and/or an endogenous LpxD acyl transferase, wherein the endogenous LpxA acyl transferase has at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 28 and wherein the endogenous LpxD acyl transferase has at least 95% sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:
 29. 18. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1, wherein i) the variant of the LpxA acyl transferase has at least 98% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the variant of the LpxL acyl transferase has at least 98% amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO: 2; and/or iii) the variant of the LpxD acyl transferase has at least amino acid sequence identity with SEQ ID NO:
 4. 19. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1, wherein i) the LpxA acyl transferase is SEQ ID NO: 1; ii) the LpxL acyl transferase is SEQ ID NO: 2; and/or iii) the LpxD acyl transferase is SEQ ID NO:
 4. 20. The genetically modified bacterium according to claim 1, wherein i) the variant of the LpxA acyl transferase is a heterologous LpxA acyl transferase obtained from a Gram negative bacterium; ii) the variant of the LpxL acyl transferase is a heterologous LpxL acyl transferase obtained from a Gram negative bacterium; and iii) the variant of the LpxD acyl transferase is a heterologous LpxD acyl transferase obtained from a Gram negative bacterium.
 21. A method for inducing or stimulating an immune response in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to the subject the composition of claim 11, wherein the immune response is stimulated or induced against a Bordetella infection.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein the subject in need thereof suffers from whooping cough.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the Bordetella infection is a Bordetella pertussis infection. 